Lent Y'all

So, Lent has begun. Do you Lent? I do. I started "doing" Lent when I was 14 years old. I attended mass with my paternal Grandmother and was immediately drawn to the idea of Lent. I was raised a hybrid of Lutheran and Episcopalian (not very different). However, this was the first time that the concept of Lent really hit me. I decided to give up sugar. It was hard for my 14 year old self to go without. I wouldn't say I fully grasped the concept of my "struggle" being anything like Jesus'. Since then I have given up sugar most years. One year I gave up bread, one year coffee and coffee flavored things, and other food concepts. 

Lent is a solemnity, yet I see people talking about it on Facebook constantly. This is very hard for me. As an Episcopalian it is difficult, we are taught not to try to evangelize people. Our faith is meant to be our own and not something to be pushed on others. Matthew comes to mind:

Matthew 6:1-4   

1“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.2 “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "

However, is there anything wrong with sharing your faith? I don't think so. I think if you are giving up Facebook for Lent you should post a little something so that people don't think you are ignoring them when you don't respond to their message or comment for 40 days. I am guilty of posting about what I am giving up. I did it for accountability. If I said it to a lot of people then I had to keep my word.

 I personally keep my faith close to my chest, to the point where people are surprised that I go to church. Some of my closest friends don't even know. Especially because I cringe when people start "sharing the gospel".  If someone asks me or seems to have an interest in it, I will talk to them about it. But, you will not see me posting much more than some baptism photos on Facebook. I don't mind posting a little something about it on my blog because it is my space. People come here to read my ramblings.

Melissa, what is your point? 
I don't really know. I just had some thoughts on Lent and I needed to write them down. I guess my point is that I don't think someone is good person or a good Christian because they "flaunt" their faith. I actually think less of a persons faith the more they post.

This year I gave up most of my clothes. I am trying a capsule wardrobe. I am teaching Mia about serving others this Lent. She is really into it. I put a bean in a jar every time I see her doing something kind and completely on her own. She likes to remind me of the nice things she did, just in case I didn't see her. At the end of the day she likes to check her jar and see how much she did that day. On Easter I will count out her beans and replace them with jelly beans (Jelly Bellys).

What did you give up? Have you ever given anything up? I love to hear your thoughts. Don't let my distaste for too much religious talk scare you away.