Fasting and Suchnot

Every Lent I hit a curious dilemma.  As Christians, we are told to pray and fast in secret, so that no one sees what we do.  Keeping a balance between private devotion and public witness presents a constant conundrum.  Ash Wednesday, with the mark of my Catholicism on my forehead, crystallizes the problem.  If my left hand doesn't know what my right hand does, how can my life be a witness?  More to the point in Lent, if my Lenten devotion is a private matter between my God and myself, how do I answer people who ask me what I am "doing for Lent"?

In the past few years, I've done my best to blow off the question, giving half answers or outright avoiding it (if possible).  This year, however, I realized how much I wanted to hear other people's sacrifices -- to be encouraged and inspired by their choices.  As I listened to people share, I discovered that they would do so with simplicity and humility.  Giving the simple truth of their sacrifice, not bragging about their spirituality.  It still doesn't answer all my questions about balance, but it helps.

In other Lenten commentary, the debate still rages over giving something up versus taking something up.  For readers not familiar with the tradition, in Lent Catholics make some sort of a sacrifice for the 40 days before Easter.  We choose what to do, and it ranges from full-out fasts to giving up swearing to refraining from chocolate.  However, some people advocate taking up a devotion instead of giving something up -- maybe starting to read Scripture daily or hitting up an extra Mass each week.

Somehow this week I got caught in a very intense defense of taking up rather than giving up.  While I understand the desire to amp up one's devotional life, I see an incredible value to sacrifice that is way too often overlooked in our society.  Sacrificing a comfort that is not inherently evil but which binds us to this world creates an incredible freedom.  We begin to focus on what really matters and leave behind those things that, while good, are ultimately unimportant.  The Lenten practices that I have most admired involve replacement: making a sacrifice and taking up a habit of holiness.

Day-Maker #58

A text message from my dad with emoticons expressing the awesomeness of Hawaii :-)

Goal: 13.1

Ever since I graduated high school, I have been something of a casual runner.  It is a cheap, easy workout that relieves stress and has the benefit of outdoors time (and no gym membership required).  I went through a brief love-hate relationship with running at the beginning of college, but we came out on good terms.

I have never done any serious running, however, and as a rule I refuse to run with people.  These constants are both changing.  I registered to run a half marathon in Pittsburgh.  I am excited to have a goal and purpose to my running now; I am also scared at the thought of 13.1 miles.  I made Brother Bear sign up with me, and we are training together.  We gained two other compatriots, Francis and Tommy More*, so we have a cozy little running group.  I am the only woman in the group.  Which works fine right now, but worries me for the future.  

Our goal is completion, not competition.  (At least, that's mine.  I've heard rumors that men tend to be more competitive than women, so maybe my running buddies have other ideas.)  The race is May 6th, in the middle of finals (but on a Sunday).  This gives us plenty of time to get used to running along the crazy Steubenville hills.  If you're far away, wish me luck -- if you're close, make plans to meet me at the finish line!

Contraceptive Changes

Here's another article about the contraceptive mandate.  This one is from a source that is generally neutral and comes from a different perspective -- not religiously or politically motivated.

Chocolate Chip Pancakes for the Romantically Disadvantaged

Today marks the 7th Annual Chocolate Chip Pancakes for the Romantically Disadvantaged.  The tradition started my freshman year at the College and carried forward out of my freshman hall through the rest of school, into St. Louis and then back to the 'burg.  This year, it made its way to Steubenville with a whole new group of people.  It was by far the most "Valentine-y" of the chocolate chip days, including roses, sweet wine, strawberries, and whipped cream.

Apparently my tradition made an impact on people in my life:  friends from the College emailed and messaged me all day long to wish me happy pancake day!

Day-Maker #57

The men in my life are awesome.  I love that I have the kind of guy-friends who will change tires, watch chick-flicks, and make sure we get home safely in the snow.

Oh, and they love Jesus.  So don't despair, ladies.  There are good men out there.

Day-Maker #56

Swing dancing!  I gave into peer pressure to go to Sunday night swing dancing: an example of positive peer pressure.   Except that now my legs are sore.

Two Perspectives on HHS

I want to share two articles I've read on the HHS contraceptive mandate.  The first is from Two Catholic Girls, a recent find and new love in my own personal blogosphere.  The other is from the Diocese of Nashville and focuses on a Dominican Sister who is a doctor.

The Bad News First

In the scant week and a half since the March for Life, two major happenings have swept through the pro-life world.

First, the decision of HHS to include contraceptives and sterilization in their idea of basic healthcare, which employers are required to provide.  While an exception is made for churches that condemn contraception, the exception does not extend to religious institutions such as schools and hospitals.  This is a problem in the Catholic world because paying for contraception or sterilization is material cooperation in evil.  (You can sign a petition here asking the administration to rescind this mandate.)

The Catholic world has exploded in outrage over this mandate, and with good reason.  Catholic institutions are being asked to choose between an authentic Catholic identity and their very existence.  The history of the Church proves that people choose an authentic Catholic identity over life itself.  In this choice, however, the Church is hindered in her desire to help and heal people in the here and now.   That being said, I want to pose a thought from one of the ladies in my women's group.  No matter how hostile we as Christians find the world (and it is hostile), we can't give in to a victim-mentality.  Every hostility is a sign of the necessity of our primary mission: to bring others to Christ.  We're not victims in a harsh world -- we are prophets bringing life to the desert.  We can't be off-put by the existence of the desert.

Second, on a happier note, the Susan G. Komen Foundation has announced that they are no longer going to fund Planned Parenthood! They are wary because of the Congressional investigation into Planned Parenthood.  While the decision is not explicitly pro-life and I wouldn't claim Komen as a pro-life ally (except inasmuch as they are fighting for the dignity of life by fighting to end breast cancer), it does take money from the nation's largest abortion provider and signal that not everyone looks at Planned Parenthood uncritically.  A critical glance at them, for many, would be a very good thing.

Update, 02/07/2012:  Susan G. Komen may have reversed their decision.  Then again, they may not have.  Grants for this year have been awarded and will not be revoked, but the future relationship of Planned Parenthood and Komen is  unclear.