Why Observe Lent in this Secular Age?

Many of my friends think I'm crazy for being Catholic. Especially for turning Catholic.

And sometimes I think I'm crazy too. Especially these day, with all the sex scandals and the election of a regressive pope who is trying to return us to pre-Reformation Catholicism

It's about the music, I tell them. And largely it is. Regardless of one's belief in a Christian God or not, there is something truly truly transcendent about the music, espeically of the High Renaissance. Especially when I sing it, which I do every week with the wonderful St. Joseph's Choir here in Hamilton.

As far as my belief in all the rest of it -- no, I don't believe that Christ was necessarily THE son of god to the exclusion of all others. And I fail to see why The Virgin Birth matters from a spiritual perspective (though I do understand why it matters on the socio political level)

Despite all of my misgivings, I do observe the season of Lent. The reasons are both practical and spiritual. From a practical perspective, it's a good time to practise the discipline of exploring what is really essential. It's grounding and makes me very aware of the things which sustain my life at the basic level, and what is not strictly necessarily.

It's also healthy -- I don't need a bottle of wine a week. It's easier on the budget to cut back, and it's also healthier. Ditto for that expensive Spanish Manchego cheese. And chocolate.

It's also good for my relationship to the rest of the planet. I'm consuming less. I'm not cutting out everything that's fun, but I'm buying less. I don't buy much to begin with, but recently I've let myself go just a bit ... I am very aware of what I don't need because of the pile of stuff in the dining room set to go out the door to Value Village.

And all of this is good for the spirit. My travels to South Asia, Kenya and Central America showed me how little a lot of people live on. And by their example, I know I can live on a lot less too. And maybe, if more people cut back on their consumption, there might be more left for them.

So I'm "depriving" myself of some of the extras. But I'm not going to cut out all of the really good things in my life. With all the time I'm saving not going to movies, or eating out, I'm going to sing -- I'm going to connect with those spirits out there, whatever they are. And I'm going to play my piano. And write. And read (Library books).

And it's only temporary. Come Easter Sunday - wine, chocolate (good chocolate) and one big exotic cheese platter.

Life is good. Even during Lent.