Ash Wednesday and Doing Hard Things

It has been so long since I blogged that I honestly couldn't remember which website hosted my blog. My mind is catching up with my saggy face, apparently. Or I just need more coffee.

Anyway, Ash Wednesday is upon us again and once again I have decided to use these 46 days to prove that we do hard things. Last year, I gave up making trash. This year, I am giving up eating foods with added sugar. Insert health warnings here.

look at all the tasty stuff with sugar!
No more pickled, yogurt sandwiches :( 

The thing about last year's Lenten sacrifice was that I had never given up something that caused me to
talk about it so much. Bringing your dishes and tupperware to a restaurant and your own food containers to Whole Foods does make you stand out. It also makes people wonder what kind of a nut you are...and they would ask... So, last year, I talked to people on the street about my Lenten Journey all the time. And by street I mean grocery store aisles and restaurant chairs. It changed how I shop. It changed how we eat (processed food contains lots of packaging). Many of those changes are still in effect in our lives.

So, why added sugar?

It's not just about eating better. It's not just about making a theological argument about stripping away the unhealthy in order to honor your body as a temple. Nor is it about stop sugar-coating the Gospel.

But I am doing this because I do hard things. Hard things are like shaving your legs. You do it whether you want to or not, but you do it because it is the least that you can do.
And sure, I may loose a few pounds.
But that's just a bonus.

We have already started to make the shift anticipating Wednesday. Jim made two loaves of bread with  honey yesterday. Yes, honey is allowed. It's completely natural and someone probably got stung getting it for me. So, they did hard things.

Stay tuned... I will share any freak outs or panics!