Lent & Self-Gratifying "Sacrifices"

As I walked home from the laundromat yesterday (the first day of Lent), all the Facebook and Twitter posts I read about people giving up things for Lent kept circling my mind. Everyone seemed to be announcing sacrifices relating to sweets, potato chips, alcohol, laziness and things of the like-sort.

Well, since I've started grad school, I haven't been sleeping and my diet of Sugar-Free Redbull and Diet Mountain Dew has made me exponentially cynical and bratty. Maybe I should give up being such a judgmental spaz for the sake of everyone around me. Wait, if I give up that stuff, I won't be getting any thinner. Chocolate and cheese are out of the question, what if I give up full-fat dairy products?

Honestly, this thought went through my head.

What is wrong with me, and a bunch of you for that matter?

I understand a lot of people "give up" things they enjoy during Lent as a "sacrifice" because Jesus sacrificed his life for us. That's a fabulous gesture.

I only spent about 16 years studying the Bible and other religious texts. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm pretty sure Jesus died on the cross for the benefit of others, not himself. I don't think homeboy lived a perfect life and went through physical and emotional torture to test or challenge himself or to prove his self-control. He did it for everyone else. How is me giving up cheese or chocolate going to help anyone else in this world?

Why is it so many of us give up food-related things for Lent? I'm guessing it's based on personal gratification. Certainly, giving up something you love for 40 days is tough. I've never made it through a full Lenten season without a cookie, but why would that even matter to the rest of society? Unless your indulgences are preventing your loved ones from living a happy and healthy life, I don't think giving up an indulgence is benefiting anyone but the person "sacrificing" it.

I'm not a preacher. I'm most-assuredly not selfless or the essential Christian woman, but people please, stop using Lent as an excuse to discuss yourselves. It's always commendable to challenge one's self and better one's self. I think that, as an idea is awesome.  Just stop trying to act like you're doing it for the sake of Jesus, because quite frankly, you're probably doing it to achieve some personal goal and/or gain attention. You can give up these things without it being Lent, ya know.

I love talking about myself and my achievements. I'm not afraid to admit my life is consumed with bettering myself physically, aesthetically, educationally and professionally. However, I'd also like to throw in I grew up engulfed in Bible studies and was raised by people who understand the importance of selflessness. So please, let us not intertwine and confuse self-gratification/self-importance with Jesus.

If we're going to "sacrifice" something, at least give what you're saving from its absence to others, or maybe make that "sacrifice" a personal goal and give up some of your time for others this Lent.

As for myself, I think I just blew giving up my cynicism. I'm totally giving away a bunch of my clothes though, for the benefit of others, not so I can buy new stuff and fit it in my closet.


 XX Jeanie