I’ve gotten some comments on the fact that I participate in Lent every year, but I don’t really consider myself to be super religious. I know I don’t owe anybody an explanation, but I thought I’d like to go ahead and just explain anyway.

Because.

So, I believe in God. And I believe that believing in God should make me different. It should change the way I treat my fellow creatures and it should change me and make me want to be a better person. Not in order to do anything for God, but because it makes me see that there is order and reason, and the more crap I can remove from myself, the closer I can get to enjoying all of the wonderful things and letting go of all of the little stuff that doesn’t really mean anything to me. God doesn’t need me to do anything. God is God.

So why do something during Lent?

It gives me a task. It gives me a short period of time to focus on improving something about myself that I feel is getting in the way of me being the best person I can be. I’m not bargaining with God for a higher place in the order of things; I really don’t think God is that bothered with my experiment between Ash Wednesday and Easter. There are so many much more important things in the world beside me and my Lenten plans.

So, last year, it was meditating. I’m still meditating daily, and it has actually helped me immensely over the past year. This year, I’m staying off Facebook. Not all social media; just Facebook. I feel like it’s the internet version of middle school, except peopled entirely by adults. All facade, no substance. It’s just getting exhausting. I think I’ll be continuing this Lenten adventure past Easter. It hasn’t really been that hard, though I’ll admit, I’ve gone on twice. The first time was an accident, and the second time was all about stalking somebody’s page. It needed to be done. Not sorry.

At any rate, that’s all. It’s an opportunity for self-improvement. No biggie, but it’s important to me.