Giving Up Lent?

So it's that time of the year again when good Catholics and thoughtful Protestants give up something (sort of) dear to them for Lent. It's kind of beautiful, I've always thought. Voluntarily giving up something that we (a little bit, anyway) love in thankfulness and dedication to the one who gave up far more for us.

Here's the thought I had today, though. How does this come off from Jesus' perspective? I'm sure that he appreciates the sentiment and all that. I think he's pretty good about motives and stuff like that. But is he really honored by people self-imposing sacrifices on themselves? Really, didn't he come so that our lives would improve and so we would NOT have to make sacrifices OT style? I know Lent isn't an OT thing, and I'm not even necessarily against it here, but I'm thinking it's a little ironic. If you couldn't pay your electric bill and I hit it for you, would I then be honored if you didn't use any from 8-10 each night to remember how I hooked you up? NO!!! I'd say "Hit the flippin' lights and microwave a burrito -- that's why I payed your bill for you!"

Again, I really do appreciate the sentiment and have always respected those (especially Protestants, who didn't "have to") who participated. I'm just thinking thoughts and asking questions, that's all. I know, I hate it when people think thoughts and ask questions about my life, too. Fair enough.

Thoughts On Surviving

So the current series of Survivor just premiered, and offers appropriate (read: meaningless) blog fodder.

The girl who got voted out tossed around a popular catch-phrase at one point by describing herself as "not afraid to speak my mind." This often goes hand-in-hand with it's sisters, "I have the right to voice my opinion," "I'll say what I want to say," and the ever-popular "I gave him/her/them a piece of my mind!"

Sure, you DO have the right to voice your opinion. And being "not afraid" to say what legitimately needs to be said can surely be necessary at times. But before you do, consider that we also have a right dislike you for it, and there's a very good chance that although you might like to think (and tell us) that it makes you "a strong person who others might be intimidated by" or some such, it's more likely that we don't want to hear it and you're just obnoxious to be around. There's also something to be said for tact and restraint, considering the other point of view, and living at peace with everybody as much as depends on you (as Paul would say).

In other words, remember Carolina.

Wade Into Survivor!

I don't watch a lot of tv. I watch even less "reality" tv. And at that, even LESS Survivor. I watched season 2, only because a guy I (sort of) knew from high school was on. (I don't know if I ever actually spoke to him, but my sister and wife knew him, and I knew his older brother. And he was from our small South Dakota town, and so it was kind of cool) And then I watched the next season before we got sick of it. Haven't seen an episode since.

Here comes another one, though! One of the contestants on the new season starting this Thursday is something of an acquaintance from my past. "Friend" is probably too strong a term -- we didn't hang out on the weekends or grab barbeque between classes -- but we were "friendly" and he was one of the few people who didn't mock my band to my face and even came to our shows.

So I say watch Survivor on Thursdays and cheer for "Coach" Ben Wade!!! The early word is that he's probably going to come across as arrogant and you probably won't like him, but all appearances are that he'll go far in the game and provide good tv. Go coach, go!

I hate to laugh at the misfortune of others . . . BUT

I haven't posted in a bit here, mostly because I haven't had much to post about.

Today I came across maybe the greatest page in the history of the web. GOSH I hope I'm never on there, although somehow this post and Murphy's Law make me a good candidate. I'll take my chances, however, to share it with you, loyal reader(s?).

Failblog.org

Enjoy, but enjoy knowing that you very well could be next.