Cursing Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday; the beginning of Lent.  Those long 40+ days before Easter where many people give up something, or, as is becoming more of a trend these days, giving back/doing good.

I'll admit I don't know much about the actual day; other than it "kicks off" Lent.  So I did a little Googling and thought this was a concise review:  http://time.com/4210001/ash-wednesday-ash-forehead/   I won't be sporting ashes today.  But that doesn't mean I won't be reflecting on the meaning of the ashes.

Besides giving up this Lent season, I'm going to do my best to give of myself.  I'll say no more about that as I am giving a meditation/sermon this Sunday at my church on the subject and I don't want to completely give myself away here.  (However, I will be posting it on Sunday, if you are at all curious.)

What I do feel is important during Lent, is to reflect and be mindful.  If you are giving up something, do so mindfully.  My son agreed to give up cursing.  Not that he is spewing profanity everywhere.  As a matter of fact, he used to ask me, or his father, before he spoke, saying “Can I say a bad word?"  And if we thought it was appropriate, we'd tell him yes.  Then he would say whatever "bad word" he wanted to.  (When this first started the "bad" word was more often than not "crap."  Not that he's gotten into the pre-teen/tween phase his language is a little more "colorful" and he asks permission to do so less often.)  After he said whatever he had to say, we might have a discussion.  Was it really appropriate to use a swear word?  What did the word really mean?  Why did he feel that way?  Amazingly enough, allowing him to use bad language opened up a family dialog.  It also made me realize how often I unconsciously swear.  Words sometimes just flow out of my mouth without any thought behind them.

As a matter of fact words flew out of my mouth just this morning as I was leaving the house to take my son to school and head to work.  I was not angry, just slightly annoyed/frustrated.  As the words came out, I remembered that my son had given up profanity for Lent and that I wasn't being the best example.  I wasn't thinking before I spoke.  And although I have not given up foul language for Lent, I was trying to be more mindful.  We should all always think before we speak, although to be honest, we rarely do.  With the season of Lent upon us, I realize that I should be mindful of my words, and of my actions.  While I might not give up cursing as my son plans to, I WILL be more mindful of what comes out of my mouth.  (And perhaps as an "incentive" I will start a "swear" jar so that every time I speak without thinking I put a coin in.  If nothing else it will be interesting to see how much money I'll have accumulated by Easter morning.)


This Lent WILL be a time for me to be more reflective AND mindful.  At least that's my plan.  And if the plan works, maybe I'll be able to carry it with me throughout the entire calendar year.






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Have Taken America Back

Image
Back to a time when all men (and women) are not created equal.  Where women's healthcare is determined by men's laws and not by medical professionals. Where education tells only the "winning" side of the story and truth does not matter.  Where banning and burning books is a social event.  Where people who are "different" than those in power can be mocked, shunned and hurt with no real consequences. Where lies are acceptable and integrity is  just a word on a page We have moved into a time where rage is the rage.  Where hate is not just normal, but accepted and even cheered. Where leaders can ask to have their "enemies" killed and no one will bat an eye.  Where it's "funny" to see someone struggle.  Where felony is applauded. Where compassion is not shown and caring for others is looked down upon. We have taken America back to a time of pain and suffering for many.  Back to when the "haves" can have and the have nots don'...
Read more

It's Not About Starbucks (or is it)?

Image
  About a block and a half from my home in a major intersection.  At the southeast corner (which is nearest to me), is an empty building.  Back in 1995 it was a Bank of NY (I remember this because they didn't shovel/de-ice their parking lot well and my husband fell and broke his ankle one Monday morning.  I recall this clearly because we were not yet married and it was the first day of a new job for me.  I had gotten on the bus to work and he was catching a later one; only he never got there.  Instead he ended up laying on the ground until an employee came to open up the bank.  Then he had them call an ambulance AND my mother who took control of the situation until I arrived home that night blissfully unaware of what had happened that day.)  It eventually became a Chase Bank; the second one in my small little town.  It eventually closed.  I'm not sure when but it's been empty for quite a long time.  (I do know that it was open in 20...
Read more

As Is

Image
  Today I want to discuss what I think it is a relatively simple concept, but may be difficult for some, even an attorney who might have once, over a decade ago won a  prestigious award  for young lawyers .  That term is "AS IS." As you may know, I volunteer in a thrift shop.  Everything we sell, from all the donations we receive, is "as is."  The items are not brand new.  They are not perfect.  That doesn't mean they aren't any good or worth something. They are sold "as is."  Buyers should go in knowing that. (After all you are shopping in a thrift shop!)  In some cases, particularly when we are offering higher end products, we will actually write on the price tag, "as is." Such is the case of two designer purses that I purchased from there this summer.  (I'm a purse-aholic!  Don't look in my closet.)  They were reasonably priced (especially when you consider the name brand), but each had an "as is" clearly marked o...
Read more