Lent is doing hard time

We’re now in the Lenten season and loving every minute of it, right? After all, what’s not to like? The holy trinity of Lenten sacrifice is fasting, abstinence and almsgiving – three of mankind’s favorite endeavors.

Well, perhaps not. But we must atone somehow for our sins. We’re all born sinners. That’s what we do.

Granted, it’s not all our fault. If Eve doesn’t bite into that apple, we all would be saints prancing around in the Garden of Eden.

And there would be no need for Lent.

But we must play with the cards our ancestors Adam and Eve dealt us. Consider them to be the first blackjack dealers dealing out destruction – unless we repent for our sins.

Lent, by definition, is a cocoon of redemption if we pour our souls into in.

I must confess that I am not a Lenten superstar.

I never do almsgiving because exactly what alms are remains a mystery to me.

I have fasted at times but haven’t made a habit out it. Hunger makes cowards of us all.

A rather casual Catholic, I do abstain from eating meat on Lenten Fridays. I don’t do this out of religious fervor but because we are taught that if we don’t comply our Pillsbury Doughboy bodies will be transformed into toasted marshmallows in the fires of hell.

Even with the specter of eternal damnation staring me in the face, I find remembering not to eat meat on Lenten Fridays to be a real cross to bear. I could blame early dementia, but God knows that’s not so.

I used to give up candy for Lent. I later narrowed that to hard candy only.

I used to give up alcohol for Lent. I later narrowed that to hard liquor only.

This year I am giving up hard work for Lent.

Even with the specter of eternal damnation staring me in the face, I find remembering not to eat meat on Lenten Fridays to be a real cross to bear. I could blame early dementia, but God knows that’s not so.