Holy Thursday: Just a Little Bit

When I began this series of posts each week, I didn't intend on actually preaching about religion in any fashion. This series is mainly to be about beer, and solely titled as such to poke fun about the fact that I'm one of the more terrible Catholics that you'll ever come across. I bend the rules quite a bit when it comes to religion. Rarely attend mass out of stubbornness.

 Still, every year I seem to go on a mini-rant at the start of Lent which began yesterday. When this occurs each year, there's always a debate on social media - the people that give something up for the 40-day period, get the ashes on their foreheads and fast on Fridays along with the people making posts about how they don't understand why people partake in such a thing, post about how their respective God still loves them if they eat meat on Fridays etc. Many of these to keyboard holy wars and it's upsetting.

To all of that, I say that I forgo eating meat on Fridays during Lent for the sake of the symbolism of the entire thing. When I thought about it yesterday I realized that I do a ton of symbolic things in my everyday life. Especially ticks and mannerisms that pay homage to important people in my life or even as far as favorite movie characters. Some genetic and some on purpose. Ever hear me randomly sniffle twice? That's my grandmother. My laugh that sounds like a hyena? My uncle David. In essence, I don't feel any more holy or glorified because I gave up something for Lent or chose to not eat meat on a Friday. I just do it as a double-check. A reminder that I control what I put in my system. The beautiful thing about? There isn't some universal law that states who is right or who is wrong. Why do you care what anyone else does?

Now that I've completed my annual complaint, on to other business. I've never actually given up anything for the full 40 days of Lent. I've pondered actually doing it this year. To reinforce my thought process from up above, if you don't go get the ashes I'm fairly sure it technically doesn't count in the Catholic church that you're giving something up. See how I make my own rules? It really doesn't matter to me.

Someone said to think about giving up beer. I laughed. I had a slight idea to give up coffee, but that went out the door as fast as I did when I realized I couldn't put said pants on correctly. I completely forgot a belt. I'm not totally sure. Technically, I'm supposed to have decided already, but I'm sure I'll be alright if it's all a day late.

Monday Rant: Skinny Tuesday

For us Catholics, the Lent season is here. It could be just me, but it seems as if it's abnormally early this year. Still, Fat Tuesday is tomorrow and I;m sure many out there will be indulging in their guilty pleasures of food and drink before having to give up whatever it is you choose to give up the on Ash Wednesday.

That's if you give up anything. I'm Catholic and a terrible one at that. I go as far as to only give up meat on Friday's. Although I do miss being able to grill a nice piece of beef on Friday evenings I certainly enjoy an amazing fried fish sandwich and a bowl of pierogi and onions.

To put it simply, the church fish fries are awesome. I just wish more served beer as well! I say more because I've noticed a few parrishes serving beer at church events. My local church is St. Therese of Lisieux and the last two years of its summer festival had tapped IC Light Mango. Certainly not my first choice, but it's always better than nothing and way better than being looked at as a big-time sinner because you partake in consuming ale.

I went off on plenty of people for participating in sober January. I'm sure there are people that give up alcohol for Lent. That's perfectly alright. what's not alright is the folk that feel the need to shoot their mouth off at people that participate in Lent.

Half some respect. I don't give up meat on Fridays to feel holy or anything. I do it to remind myself that I'm the one that's in control of what goes into my body. Food and drink aren't my master. Give up what ever you want to give up. Don't let some snob tell you otherwise because they think they're above practicing any form of religion. We have every right to partake in something if they exhibit their's to not partake.