Lent's End – but really? Lent 2025: Day 46

The first time I took Lent seriously was 1992 (no alcohol for 46 days – nothing more), so I'm now coming up to the end of my 34th consecutive Lent. To the alcohol ban were added abstinence from confectionery, biscuits and cake, salt-snacks and fast food, and later, meat. I did, for a couple of years, also give up fish and dairy, going vegan for Lent, and forswear caffeine. These two proved physiologically (dreadful headaches) and practically (tough being vegan when on business travel across Poland) too tough to continue with.

The will not to do something is easier to see through than the will to do something. Gradually, over the years, I added physical exercise to my Lenten regime, which from 2014 on became a year-round activity. And from 2013, I introduced blog content focused on human spirituality (each day throughout Lent from 2020 to 2025, interrupted by my hospital stay this year). Looking back over my old Lenten posts, I can trace my spiritual development over those blogging years. Yes, it has really helped shape who I am in a positive way.

What starts as a Lenten resolution often turns into year-round habit. (Looking back at my past Lenten blog posts, I see that watching TV is also something I kicked during Lent.)

Concentrating on a life of simple joys, eschewing materialist pleasure and thrill-seeking, I get closer to a peace of mind necessary for continual contentment. No rush, no stress, no anxiety, no desire to vault myself up the status hierarchy.

The timing of Lent depends on the date of Easter, a moveable feast. It can shift by four weeks, the earliest Lent starting on 4 February and ending on 21 March; the latest would start on 10 March and end on 24 April. So this year's one is of the later Lents. The day before yesterday, the thermometer exceeded 30°C (87°F) – on 17 April, in Poland, you will understand. Though it may not be astronomical summer, it certainly feels like it. Lent starts in winter and ends in spring; this is a metaphor for rebirth and new beginnings.

In the month before Shrove Tuesday, my blog received over 71,000 page views. Over the past month of exclusively Lenten contemplations, traffic has fallen to under 18,000 page views. Do I care? Does this matter? Will I return to regular content or should I focus the rest of my blogging years on posting existential thoughts of a purely spiritual nature?

A new exercise for myself to adopt: one hour's focus a day. Reading a book for an hour. Writing for an hour. Building up to it will take time, like any exercise. Starting with shorter periods, say 15 minutes... Can I do it? Setting aside focus time and building up over the weeks? Over the years?

The practice of year-long asceticism is good for the soul – and good for the planet.

At midnight – traditionally, I shall break fast and indulge in some alcohol. Bought a couple of weeks ago, a bottle of Po Godzinach barley wine from Browar Amber (8.5% abv). Image created with Imagen 3.0 on account of it being broad daylight and not wishing to pour the beer until midnight.

During six of the seven days I was in hospital, I ate meat (ham and chicken mostly); on the Friday I left, fish was on the menu. So 40 days without meat achieved. 

Lent 2024: Day 46 
Why do we exist? Why does anything exist?

Lent 2023, Day 46
The summary, finale

Lent 2022: Day 46
Easter Everywhere, but not Ukraine

Lent 2021: Day 46
The summing up

Lent 2020: Day 46
Nor followers, nor leaders; one's own way to God