R.I.P. Lent 2010, or The Diet of Champions, Free of Charge

Now that Lent is over, the ashes can be cleaned from the fireplace, and the fast can be been broken, and it might be permissible to talk about those Lenten experiences.

Matthew 6:16-18 "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

At the onset of the 2010 Lenten season back in February, I was still listening for direction as to the disciplines intended for me. Within the first week, the message was clear that I should not only fast and pray, but exercise the body as well. The end result has been the loss of eight pounds of excess baggage, increased physical and spiritual endurance, and a closer relationship with God. This was not something I came up with on my own as a self improvement program. I credit the Lord for drawing up the plan and accomplishing these results. I see now that the Lord knew how to prepare me for a new life after Easter.

Here is the plan and how it worked.

CAVEATS:

Anyone wishing to duplicate these results should first consult with their Great Physician.

I would not advise this particular plan for anyone else because of its highly personalized nature and risk to persons with diabetes.

Beginning with prayer for help, daily readings from the lectionary, regular worship, daily Bible study with the support of FCD (see right hand column), thirty minute periods of silence, my spiritual life was strengthened, and I found myself spending more quality time with the Lord.

Having experience with fasting, and exercise, but never the combination of the two, I was led to begin the fast by studying up on weight loss. Examining my daily caloric expenditures and the caloric content of a pound of fat was a good place to start. It appears that a pound of fat contains 3500 calories. In order to lose a pound of fat a week I needed to run a caloric deficit of 500 calories a day. A few clicks of the mouse will tell you that it is hard to increase your caloric expenditures by 500 calories a day by exercise without spending most of your day at the gym. I knew that I usually can only engage in vigorous exercise every other day, and it was sobering to find out using the Fit Day calculator that this probably only burned an extra 300 calories on those days and perhaps 128 extra calories burned daily when averaged out over a week. More disheartening was the fact that I was already exercising at least twice a week prior to Lent, so one added day of exercise each week would only increase my average daily energy burned by 28 calories.

In order to have put on 8 pounds in the past year, despite exercising off and on to one degree or another (mostly off for a month prior to Lent due to an extended case of bronchitis), I must have been taking in an average of just 77 extra calories a day over and above my basic needs.

So, I  needed to either cut 577 calories from my usual daily intake while maintaining a stable level of exercise, or I needed to cut about 472 calories a day if I could push myself to increase the frequency of my strenuous exercise. The latter was where I was directed towards, so I dusted off the running shoes and cleared away all the stuff that was hanging from the weights, and set additional aside time for working out the body.

My fasting was from dawn to dusk, but I could consume water, or on occasion some fresh green leafy vegetables (with no salad dressing) so as to not be completely antisocial (eating together is a very social behavior). While fasting is an important spiritual activity, people had told me that this is not an effective means of weight reduction because of overeating after dusk. This is when I had to be most careful about watching my caloric intake as I had developed a habit of snacking after supper for the past few years.

As it turned out, hunger did not occur.  I did notice a flavor of ketones late in the afternoons that told me that my body was mobilizing fat for energy (one of the byproducts of fat metabolism is ketones which can be dangerous at high levels, and can be detected either by their odor or by a diabetic urinary test strip). I also noticed an increase in a general restlessness around 6 p.m. each evening. This restlessness might manifest itself by an impulsive walking around the kitchen or difficulty staying seated and completing an evil Sodoku puzzle. Sitting down and practicing piano (yes the Pewster is a 3rd month piano student) usually took care of the restlessness, burned a few extra calories, but tended to scare away the cook (an added bonus that decreased the available number of calories available for consumption). The potentially most dangerous times of this plan occurred when strenuous exercise was performed before the evening refueling. Running while mildly ketotic is not something I had planned on doing, but due to the constraints of time, it was unavoidable. I had not expected to encounter Christ during my runs, but there were several occasions where I felt that He was leading me, always ahead, far enough away that I could not tell if He was wearing sandals or not.

Now that Lent is over, I do see the world in a different light, as though I have been born again...and I don't think that is just because of a little acetone floating in my blood stream. Prayer throughout Lent, regular worship, daily scripture reading, and the support of the Lord were the keys to this rebirth. There were times when running up my personal "heartbreak hill" that I found myself repeating "Lord have mercy" in perfect rhythm with my labored breathing. I did not experience hunger nor pain, and that was a daily reminder to give thanks to God. I now realize that I stayed free of illness and injury as well, for which I am grateful that the Lord so blessed me. I just hope He doesn't make me do it again next year.

And for the rest of the good news, this amazing diet plan is available for an unlimited time free of monetary charge. You may obtain a personalized plan by contacting your manufacturer.

No Hallelujahs Shall be Sung During Lent

A few Sundays ago, the church choir in an emergency "oops" moment, skillfully substituted the words, "Lord have mercy" for the "Alleluias" in the anthem, "Draw us in the Spirit's Tether" by Friedel. The Sunday bulletin printed the forbidden words however. Was that wrong? Tracing this tradition proved to be a rewarding experience.

The custom of burying the Alleluias during Lenten worship appears to go back for many centuries, perhaps as early as the fifth century.



I browsed around and found the following at the Canberra Traditional Latin Mass Community:

The depositio (discontinuance) of the Alleluia on the eve of Septuagesima assumed in mediæval times a solemn and emotional note of saying farewell to the beloved song. Despite the fact that Pope Alexander II [in the eleventh century] had ordered a very simple and sombre way of "deposing" the Alleluia, a variety of farewell customs prevailed in many countries up to the sixteenth century...

In some French churches the custom developed in ancient times of allowing the congregation to take part in the celebration of a quasi-liturgical farewell ceremony. The clergy abstained from any role in this popular service. Choirboys officiated in their stead at what was called "Burial of the Alleluia" performed the Saturday afternoon before Septuagesima Sunday. We find a description of it in the fifteenth-century statute book of the church of Toul:

"On Saturday before Septuagesima Sunday all choir boys gather in the sacristy during the prayer of the None, to prepare for the burial of the Alleluia. After the last Benedicámus (i.e., at the end of the service) they march in procession with crosses, tapers, holy water and censers; and they carry a coffin, as in a funeral. Thus they proceed through the aisle, moaning and morning, until they reach the cloister. There they bury the coffin; they sprinkle it with holy water and incense it; whereupon they return to the sacristy by the same way."

In Paris, a straw figure bearing in golden letters the inscription "Alleluia" was carried out of the choir at the end of the service, and burned in the churchyard [...]

Thus the Alleluia is sung for the last time, and not heard again until it suddenly bursts into glory during the Mass of the Easter Vigil, when the celebrant intones this sacred word after the Epistle, repeating it three times as a jubilant herald of the Resurrection of Christ.

Father Franz Xaver WEISER SJ
Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs (Harcourt, 1958)

The Anglican Curmudgeon posted this video a year ago before Lent 2009. Some of us could not help but watch it during Lent. I saw, but did not hear, any alleluias. Did I break my discipline? Will you be breaking yours today if you watch the video?

Lenten Discipline

At today's service, the Rev. Mary Cat Young talked about her discipline this Lent. I usually don't blog about my personal discipline, but since she opened the door, I will walk in. Mary Cat is cutting her coffee consumption down. Chemical dependency is a difficult but good problem to approach during Lent. These temptations, be they chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, or whatever, are exceedingly difficult to resist without help. Perhaps by talking about her personal efforts, she was recruiting us to support her in resisting that second cup of coffee.

Other temptations that some might focus on during Lent might be more in the realm of psychological ones, such as greed, self-centeredness, envy, etc.

One thing that I think was missing from the sermon was the importance of prayer. During the times of temptation that I face during Lent, I have found that prayer is the one thing that will carry me through to Easter. Lenten discipline must involve prayer, and this is one of the things that differentiates Lenten resolutions from New Year's resolutions. We all know how New Year's resolutions never seem to work. Perhaps it is the absence of the God factor from the secular resolutions that dooms their results to failure. People set out to have a New Year's resolution for their own purposes. In Lent we do what we do for the Lord. The 40 days of Lent are doable only with the Lord's help. It is something you cannot do alone. It is something that helps you realize that you are not the self sufficient being that you think you are.

Forty days is a bit more than 10% of the year. In a way, it is a tithe of time. Giving to the Lord that which is His. Like most sacrifices, this tithe of time should be quality time. Looked at in this way, giving more time to the Lord, makes it apparent that it is important to remove those things that separate us from Him.

In past seasons, I have done without Rush Limbaugh, T.V., computer games, meat, caffeine, cussing, desserts, cookies, lunch, and the list goes on and on.

Some seasons, I have focused on reading (this works especially well when combined with no television). Books suitable for Lent include the Bible of course, but I have learned much from other books as well.

In my personal observances, I usually strive for keeping a discipline the entire 46 days. I have found the fourth and fifth weeks to be the most difficult. These are the opportune times that the devil waits for as mentioned in today's readings from Luke 4:1-13

"When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time." (v.13)

And what about myself? This year I began Lent by praying for guidance in setting a discipline. I look at my task, and in addition to a routine of daily scripture reading, an on-line O.T. study group, prayer, and worship, I will have two disciplines, one psychological and the other physical. As far as the psychological goes, it is to be fully present when with others. My first temptation didn't wait long, it occurred on Ash Wednesday when I attended another church's service. In an unfamiliar church situation, self-consciousness creeps in, and what happens? God does not get worshipped; He does not get the tithe of time. I needed that slap in the face to get me started.

Compared to that, the physical discipline, while difficult, is more easily measured and monitored. My clothes will tell on me.



I cannot do this alone.

Carnival 1 : Lent 0

The following letter came via snail mail the other day, and I have carefully transcribed it as I believe it means something, but I need help in figuring it out. Some background information may be helpful. For the past several years ECOOS would have a weekly gathering during Lent on a weeknight such as every Wednesday or Thursday during which various educational or devotional programs would be put on by the rector. A simple meal would be provided by one or more of the parishioners. Attendance would usually start out with 10-12 persons and would decrease each week as the weather improved and Easter neared.

"February 19, 2009

Dear Members and Friends of the Church of Our Saviour,
Since I have come to Our Saviour, I have seen that many traditional Lenten practices of the Church of my youth have changed. Fewer people take upon themselves a Lenten fast or attend mid-week services and meals. Fewer people attend Holy Week observances. I, personally, believe that these changes have been consequences of the facts that 1) so many women have entered the workforce, and that two-worker families just don't have the amount of time to spend on anything that they used to when women, by and large, stayed home; and 2) young people are far busier in after-school and job opportunities than ever before.

Those developments are not going to change anytime soon, so I have come to accept the loss of traditional Lenten activities as a fact of life in the contemporary Episcopal Church and in our parish. That does not mean, however, that I believe any less in the worth of observing what the Church calls a 'holy Lent.' What it means is that we have to do it in perhaps different ways, with less busyness and more intentionality.

First and foremost, what we do as Christians in the Catholic tradition is to worship at God's altar every Sunday. Therefore, more than any other discipline, I bid all of you to keep holy the Lord's Day and attend the divine liturgy. If you have become slack in your worship duties, Lent is the set time to practice in your life what you say with your lips.

With this letter you will find a sheet with all of the major events of Lent and Holy Week that we have planned. You will also find a purple copy of a new rite that the clergy of our Catawba Convocation have come up with in order to respond to the pressing economic woes of our community, state, country, and world. We have many resources in the Book of Common Prayer to address such a condition in the world, and that is where this rite has come from.

We shall pray this short prayer service each Wednesday in Lent after Ash Wednesday, at noon in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. It is intended to give folks time and space in which to pray for those who are unemployed or fearful of losing their jobs, those who have to do the unpleasant task of firing people, those who have lost income or security, those who are fearful of losing their job, those who have friends or family suffering during this deep recession, or those who wish to pray for our elected leaders as they seek to serve their various constituencies. The form is enclosed so that even if you cannot attend the service on Wednesdays, you can use it elsewhere at work or at home, with others, with your family, or by yourself."

My initial impression was that, for the game of Lent, score one for culture (carnival), nil for the Church (Lent). Later, I wondered if it was the team that dropped the ball, was it the fans, the cheerleaders, was it the coaching staff, was it the owner, or was it the League Commissioner?

The most depressing thought I had was that maybe the game just can't compete with the distractions of the world anymore.

Pieter Bruegel's "The Fight between Carnival and Lent," 1559