Lenten season means more than passing on junk food

OUR VIEW

The final Mardi Gras float has come and gone.

All of the colorful beads that were inside of it have been thrown. The beads that were caught are now in the storage garages of folks all throughout the Houma-Thibodaux area where they will await recycling in parades at a later date. If they’re lucky, they might even be able to retire from the parade circuit and be part of a family’s decorations or ornaments within a house.

What wasn’t scooped up remains in the streets to be swept up at a later date – perhaps once the soggy, damp conditions go away.

As Carnival season fades into the twilight for its 11 and a half month hibernation, we are now officially in the Lenten season – if, of course, you are of the Catholic Church.

Lent is a time that is supposed to be special because it is meant to mark a period of penance, reflection and fasting to prepare us for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday – a time in which we are able to attain redemption.

But too often, the Lenten season gets overshadowed by sacrifices that are unbecoming of the virtues that Christians should maintain in their day-to-day lives.

Too often, we are giving up the wrong things, while still living our lives the wrong ways.

Here’s what we mean.

To all the folks giving up chocolate, fried foods, fast food, etc., during Lent, God Bless You, but we’re not fully sure that those sacrifices are the right direction to go during the next several weeks.

Instead, why doesn’t a person do things to lead better, more productive lives? Instead of sacrificing a Snickers bar or something that gives you joy, why don’t you sacrifice some free time to read stories to children at a local public library?

Are you hungry on a Friday afternoon and are craving a hamburger? Indulge yourself and eat it. There’s not too much wrong with that. Instead, spend some time with your little cousins, nieces, nephews or whoever else relies on you to be a positive role model.

What’s the difference between a hamburger and boiled crawfish anyway? If eating crawfish is your sacrifice, then how much are you truly sacrificing? If mudbugs are my Plan B, then I don’t even care what Plan A is – I’ll be completely OK with the way things are heading.

Don’t have relatives to look out for to complete the above-stated example, then just simply act better.

If you’re impatient, seek to be more patient.

If you’re the kind of person that’s always running late, then wake up 30 minutes earlier and try to be on time.

If you’re not known for being a neat, tidy person, then pick up more frequently in the coming weeks and try and polish up that bad habit.

All of those things are more impactful and are more effective toward promoting Christ’s ways than simply avoiding chocolate or fried foods.

Because, of course, that’s what being a Christian is all about.

So let’s use these next few weeks wisely and seek to be better and more impactful people.

KUDOS TO CITIZENS FOR SAFE MARDI GRAS

At press-time on Monday afternoon, there still were a few more parades set to roll on Tuesday in Lafourche.

Knock on wood, but the 2015 Carnival Season went off without a hitch.

Law enforcement in both parishes touted this past week that citizens were mostly well behaved during carnival with just a few minor incidents netting a few citations and arrests for misdemeanor charges.

To be able to shut down virtually an entire city and start an all-out party without incident is a feat – one that takes the cooperation of lots of people.

So kudos to the people of the Houma-Thibodaux area for helping to create a fun, family-friendly Mardi Gras season.

Let the good times roll!