I grew up a devout Episcopalian, which is about as close as you can get to Catholic without necessitating the purchase of a rosary or the memorization of four dozen saints’ names. Otherwise, I was more or less Catholic, for all intents and purposes, right down to the strict observance of Lent.
No…not the little wuzzy stuff that you remove from your sweaters with a roller. That’s lint. And lint is pretty much impossible to observe, anyway.
I’m talking about the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. That time during which all sorts of folks…Catholic and otherwise…give up their habits and vices and addictions oh my in remembrance of all that Jesus sacrificed for the world.
Over the years, I anticipated Lent with about as much enthusiasm as an anticipated mammogram…you know…
Ultimately good for me.
And painful as all get-out.
For weeks preceding Lent, I would agonize, changing my mind again and again, about what I would have to live without for a month, wondering all the while how I would ever get by.
Chocolate?
French fries?
Coffee?
Wine? *shudder*
Why did it always seem to be consumption-centered?
Come to think of it, In those days, I might very well have preferred observing lint to observing Lent.
It wasn’t until the past decade or so that I started seeing Lent through a different lens, so to speak.
Not lint through a magnifying glass…Lent with different eyes.
I began to regard Lent as a time of reflection…
Of moderation…
Of casting off that which does not matter, that which fills my mind and life with unnecessary distractions and complications…
…in order to simplify and focus on what matters most.
I don’t know about you, but I can do with a lot less Stuff and a lot more of What Matters Most.
And in that spirit, this Lent, I’m doing this:
Can I say “crap” during Lent? Yes…yes, I believe I can.
I stumbled across this pin while having hours of my life sucked away by perusing Pinterest, so I clicked over to see what the hubbub was about.
Turns out? It’s about spending the 40 days prior to Easter casting off that which does not matter.
Simplifying.
Eliminating distractions.
Of cutting the crap, so to speak. There now…I just said it again.
40 bags of crap (OopsISaidItAgain)…or cabinets de-cluttered…or drawers streamlined…or closets cleaned…in 40 days.
This? Is a challenge that I relish.
So now, if you’ll excuse me…my closet is beckoning me.
I have some serious decrapifying to do.
Tell me…do you “do” Lent? And if so, how are you doing it this year?
Inspired by a prompt from Mama Kat: Pinterest Inspired!
Nope, I don’t lent. But, I am decrapifying the boys closets as we speak. Feels good! Oh, and thanks for Jerry!
I’m not coming out of the closet today until it’s done. Two more sections to go. And you’re welcome!
I’ve never given anything up for Lent, but I can get behind doing 40(ish) days of organization! My kitchen cabinets are dyyyying for some guidance.
I need a schedule like this to keep me organized, Anna. She even has a cute little printable on her website!
I’ve seen that around Pinterest too and thought it sounded like a great idea. Decluttering is good for the soul…and that’s what lent is all about, right?
Absolutely, Kimberly. Amen.
I think this is about the most splendid way to observe Lent that I’ve ever heard anyone talk about. It’s practical, useful & reflective. It’s really in keeping with Jesus saying, ” no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions,” in Luke 14:33
I wish I could claim the idea as my own…but I’ll happily bandwagon nonetheless. Happy Lent!
Its such a good idea. I cannot wait to see your follow up post on this and all the goodies you find. What will happen to all those wine charms??? What about the shoes, the purses, the jewelry…oh my!?!
Ha! I could have a little rummage sale featuring my wine charms alone. Perhaps you could use some to dangle from your yard art?
I love that–Decrapifying! If I weren’t leaving home for part of Lent–and if I had heard of it before yesterday–I might have done that too. Oh well, there is always next year!
Yes, Melinda. There *is* always next year. The crap will wait. It’s patient that way.
I love this! I need to do this! I was thinking that I would give up going to bed late, which means that some nights I will need to have a cocktail (red wine knocks me out)…but this is something I need to do too. I saw your post on Facebook, and then a professional organizer friend of mine posted the same thing…I feel like it is meant to be!
More sleep AND a nightly cocktail? Awesome Lenten observance, Michelle!
I’m still trying to stick to my New Year’s resolutions so there’s not much left to give up for Lent. I like the idea of decrapifying though – it’s always a good time to decrapify.
I just talked to someone today who cleans out a room every time her husband goes out of town. I like that idea, too.
This is such a good idea! I’m gonna have to give it a go…First up: decrapifying my bathroom. It’s only fitting, you know.
Absolutely, Hill. If the crap fits…
I was born and raised Catholic. When my child was about 4, I decided to change religions (for reasons I won’t get into here). Therefore, I do not need to celebrate Lent. But old habits die hard. Last year, I decided to give up wine for those 40 days. I almost made it. But about 3/4 of the way through it, I said, “wait, I’m not Catholic any more, I don’t need to do Lent” and went and poured myself a double!
I think that simplifying and decluttering is a great practice…for any religion.
We don’t observe Lent, but we did when I was growing up. I remember feeling mildly annoyed about not being able to have a burger, but other than that I was fine. I think I’d be most cringey about cutting out coffee for the month. That would be a hard one!
Coffee??? Never. Cringing along with you, Kat.