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So after a day of pancakes yesterday, Lent begins today! That period of 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday where we remember the time that Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights and was tempted by the Devil. We often choose to deny ourselves something during Lent as a way to realise our own weaknesses and grasp the intense significance of the crucifixion. It also gives us a deep and powerful longing for the resurrection and a joy on Easter Sunday.
Easter can often sneak up on us but by observing Lent we take a chance to remember the dark before the dawn, the sin that sent Jesus to the cross. Lent helps us experience our part in the Passion (or suffering) of Jesus. We face our humanity during Lent: we learn that sin still dwells in us, that we still carry darkness. We learn that we, like his disciples, would likely have fallen asleep as Jesus prayed for deliverance in the garden, and, also, that we would likely have denied knowing him as he silently accepted his death sentence.This Lent I have been challenged (and so have challenged teh young people under my care) to consider denying myself some pleasure as a means to remind me of Christ’s sacrifice and prepare for the celebration of that at Easter. However, as well as NOT doing something, I also feel motivated by the challenge of Christ to DO something or GO someplace this Lent and stretch myself in my SERVICE to Him.
So for Lent i have chosen to give up 2 things i love very much - take-aways & the West Wing! The former will be a challenge to my weekly lazy eating habits and the latter will be incredibly difficult as i have just acquired the entire DVD collection and am currently in the midst of season 2! It was never meant to be easy! I'm just wondering has anyone else out there given up anything for Lent this year?
I had been looking to buy a new TV since Christmas and had been looking around at lots of good deals out there but could never really pluck up the courage to just go and buy one! I had spotted one at a good price in a local electrical retailer and had been in to look at it on 3 separate occasions this week! They only had one left, so this morning i just decided to put it off no longer and if it was still in the shop i would buy it - it was and i did! Im delighted with the results and reckon it will definitely help with New Year's Resolution number 12 although probably not with number 14!
Been a bit sick last week. It started last weekend with a bit of a sore throat and by Tuesday night (after a full days work) i was dying with thumping head and breathing difficulties! So i decided to take Wednesday off cos i was fit fer nahin! Thought i could take the opportunity to read a bit but alas i just wasn't up to concentrating on the page so i took into to watching the 'Long Way Round' DVD (thanks wiggy, i didn't ask you but i knew you wouldn't mind - what's mine is yours!)
If you haven't seen it - you should cos it's fascinating. It is a 7 part series (previously shown on TV) documenting the adventure of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman (best mates) as they travel around the world on 2 motorbikes. Their journey takes them across Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia, Alaska, Canada and the USA in just over 3 months. The highlight for me has to be in Ukraine when they meet this bloke in the street who invites them to stay in his home for the night. So they follow this guy, supposedly a coal minor, to his home which turns out to be considerably larger than the other homes in the locality. So he puts on a massive feast and invites many friends around for a party and the Vodka is on tap! Later in the evening, the host comes down the stairs with a guitar in one hane and a Kalashnikov rifle in the other! It's hilarious as Ewan and Charlie just take their mafia experience in their stride! Another highlight has to be the interesting array of nuts they get to sample in mongolia i believe - watch it! I guess this is not unlike the movie 'Motorcycle Diaries' if you have seen it but this is a documentary that focuses in more detail on the logistics and struggles of the trip.
Anyway, it was a great way to spend a sick day - i definitely felt that it was not a day wasted as i was inspired to follow dreams and travel more on a motorbike of course!
Some of you who know me well will be surprised by the lack of 24 related material on this blog - let me explain. I'm fairly new to the 24 phenomenon as i only started watching Season 1 in January '06 and finished it within 3 days (that's approx 18 hours of viewing). Over the next 3 months i worked my way through Seasons 2-4 and watched my last episode of Season 4 on 13th April. So that's 96 episodes and 72 hours of viewing in about 3 months. Now some people might feel that is an appauling waste of time but on the contrary i feel it was definitely a worthwhile investment! The show is amazing and Jack Baur is definitely one of my heroes in life! Heard this quote recently: Jack Baur isn't afraid of the dark, the dark is afraid of him.
For anyone who hasn't ever been introduced to the world of CTU and Jack then i have just purchased Season 1 and would be willing to lend it out to anyone who may be interested and feels they have some time on their hands.
It's been 52 days since my last episode and whilst i no longer have dreams where i am in employed by the CTU and fighting terrorism alongside Jack, i do still have a 24 shaped hole in my life that just can't be filled with anything else TV has to offer. The exciting thing is that there is a strong possibility that i may be getting my hands on most of the episodes from Season 5 tomorrow so if i'm not quite so active on the blog front for the next few days you will understand why!
