I haven't done anything for Lent in a very long time. I am going to attend my very first Ash Wednesday service tonight maybe it will inspire me to look at Lent differently.

I lent something out once and never got it back so i dislike it :((

I have contemplated doing something for Lent this year. I am thinking something diet related, like no sugar or alcohol.

I have also thought of doing a study/meditation of some sort, so if anyone has a suggestion, I'd love to hear it.

I am getting more active. I can walk or do yoga and meditate while doing those activities.

We're starting a book study tonight, Through the Woods, J. Clark Saunders.  It'll likely run through into May or June, so it's not really a soley Lenten thing, but tonight seems a very appropriate time to start.

I've given up potatoes.  I don't think that deprevity is such an important part of lent, I just find that it's a good time for me to challenge things about myself: like my diet and my faith.

Yes, I have given up for Lent all caffeinated products.

I see lent as a call to holiness - a time to strengthen my relationship with God. I will think about things, and, if I feel that there is something that has gotten in the way of my relationship with God, I will forgo that thing to spend more time in reading the bible, bible study and prayer. This year, I decided I was spending too much time on Facebook, so I gave that up. I gave it up a few weeks ago, which was technically before lent started. In the end, I believe that lent is more about getting closer to God, and less about denying ourselves of things.

I once gave up attending Presbytery for Lent. Then someone told me it should be something difficult. So the next year I gave up making fun of the Toronto Maple Leafs. My but I was tempted the night Toskala let in that bouncing puck which had been shot from the other end of the ice!

At my current church we take on a lenten lunch time series of worship services. We have six guest speakers, plus myself. It is quite a creative challenge. You can find out more about it at dc-church.org on the special events page. We'll post the sermon as an mp3 for you to listen to.

I'm going vegetarian for lent. I think it'll be good for me! I'll be eating a ton of lentils & soy for a while. I think I can do it.

Is anyone taking on anything - working at food bank, visiting sick etc.?

I just joined a learn to run for smokers group put on by the lung association.  I'm taking on regular exercise for lent.  I think of the time that I'm walking (I'm not fit enough to actually run yet) as a time of meditation because I find the rest of my life is taken up by distractions.  I've also started reading my bible regularily.

My son is going to practise his musical instruments more often.  I'm helping by paying him to teach me violin, so he practices his music after my lesson because one of the instuments is already out.  He has also just taken up a new instrument with a very demanding teacher and he set the bar very high at his first lesson.

I'm doing a daily reflection for Lent called "Singing a Song of  Faith - Daily Reflections for Lent".  I am also going to take time during Lent - a quiet time in the morning - to spend a few minutes before starting my day resting in God's presence.

I am trying to take time for  daily meditation during lent. I have had some medical challenges during the last year and feeling a bit discouraged so I hope that taking time for meditation may help.

Pommum, I hope the quiet and meditative time you are going to take will encourage, uplift, renew, and rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit.

Given my recent diagnosis of diabetes (likely type 2), I am making a lenten effort to quit smoking, eat healthier, quit drinking pop and improve my diet and exercise habits. Day 2 so far of not smoking, and haven't had pop for a week and a half. I quit smoking cold turkey, just like most of the other times that I've tried... this time it was part of my birthday promise/gift to my mom for her birthday.

Hey alive!  First of all, sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis of diabetes.  I don't know a lot about it, but am learning and educating myself as type 2 appeared on both sides of my parents families.

I did watch a show on diabetes that Dr. Oz and I learned some new information from that.  I really didn't have a good understanding how diabetes caused damage to various parts of our bodies - I knew it did, I just didn't fully understand how.  He explained that the excess sugar in the blood stream acts like pieces of shard glass that causes the damage.  So I guess one of the most important things for me would be to deal with the excess sugar immediately, even if it meant taking medication until things improved with other changes in my life.  It has been mentioned that some people are able to turn around the type 2 diabetes with changes to their diet and lifestyle and exercise.

Way to go on quiting smoking - that is wonderful news.  I am an ex-smoker and I know it is not easy - so way to go on quiting, and encouragement as you go day by day with a ciggy-puff.

Wow - quitting smoking and pop - that's quite a feat.  Have you thought about going to a diet pop until you get the smoking under your belt?

That's a wonderful birthday gift to give your mom - she will be very pleased that you are taking these steps to improve your overall health.  I have someone in my family who I believe is at a very high risk at this point in their life for type 2 diabetes and is doing nothing about even - not even being tested (perhaps they already have it) - and for me the most wonderful birthday (anytime) gift would be for a promise or a commitment to try and make some health changes.

You might need help and encouragement the smoking thing - reach out and accept all the help that is available to you.

Good luck, and good health!
 

I also hope your lenten effort makes way for a closer relationship with God as you know him/her.

I quess I am bothered by giving up things for diet etc- self impovement.    Now if it works as spiritual discipline go for it.... What is that we seek in the practice is the question.  It might be a time for more reflection and prayer - so giving up being wedded to techology might be one thing - the question is who do you serve and then work on it.

Maybe it is wondercafe that I should give - making me less charitable these days.

my sense is that it can be a very simple item taken on/given up, as long as our thoughts are drawn to God each time. 
I really ought to do something because I feel like I careen through my days too much lately.  Anything would be good.  

I've shared this before, but it fits here again - one year I gave up cookies - just cookies.  It did work as a lenten exercise, but it also lost me 10 pounds.  10 pounds!!!  Just on cookies!!!! yikes.