Categories: uncategorized
Date: 15 February 2007 16:36:49
Do you ever get that sense of impending doom? Now I know 'God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform' and all that. Yes - I've no difficulty whatsoever accepting the notion that 'Chocolate is God's way of saying He loves you and wants you to be happy!' Speaking as one whose dentist is 'keeping an eye on' her crowns and who's still wading her way through yesterday's Valentine's haul I'd have no difficulty passing the time from 21 February 21 to 7 April, unloved and miserable. In fact, the little child that generally spends her time hiding inside a flabby, pre-menopausal Miffy is positively thrilled at the idea, and even as I type is fighting to get out, waving at the world in general, yelling,' Look at me! Look at me! Aren't I being a Good Girl!'
But please... No New Shoes? No treats? No new BOOKS ? Magazines (the 'essential' reading list for the next part of my course has multiplied ten-fold in the last 5 minutes!) Surely that mug of coffee from the station stall on the way up to visit MIL counts as an 'essential?' Along with the pack of pringles, sandwiches - and suppose the youth group at church do one of their bacon buttie sales during Lent? I mean, it's for a Good Cause? It would be churlish to refuse?
Ah yes, but as a would-be 'Seabirder,' who's been earnestly pondering notions of simplicity, poverty and self-denial these last few months and who if all goes according to plan should be taking on a more serious comittment come Easter, what on earth am I griping about? After all, it's simply a matter of putting your money where your mouth is, isn't it? Or rather - not putting your money.
So, why the outburst of verbal diarrhoea? Well, being the responsible, mature adult that I am, I'll blame someone else. (Eve did it. I'm in good company!). I blame 'Having An Idle Moment,' post course unit completion. Of course! If I'd been owrking away I'd not have idly clicked on Chelley's blog
wiblog/chelley and read her plans for Lent. Thus inspired, I forced myself to eat lunch whilst reading this week's 'Methodist Recorder,' (ah, goodie. I can blame Smudgie as well!) and came across this newly lauched Lent initiative by two members of staff from Methodist Church House.
nonewshoes
Michaela Youngson and Anna Drew have decided to go for 46 days without shopping for anything but essentials.
"emo ergo sum: I shop, therefore I am.
The average UK household spends £443 a week, with £58 on recreation & culture and £62 a week on transport. But what if we didn't? What if we said ‘no!' to all this spending and settled on just buying what we need? The thought fills us with fear...
no new shoes is a Lent experiment. We want to know whether it changes the way we think about ourselves and our world if for 46 days we only purchase essential items. And what's ‘essential' anyway?"
Check out their website for more details. Meanwhile there's going to be some serious musing going on chez Miffy. The results of which could make for some extremely interesting reading over the next few months. (Especially if it involves a bookless Lent!).
*Miffy who sometimes feels that God loves people who 'eat up their cabbage.' ;)