My final Lenten sacrifice

[MineralMan]

was in 1966. I was just 20 years old, and had recently enlisted in the USAF. I was in the middle of transitioning from being a middle class college student, studying Electronics Engineering, to being a far different person from the nice Presbyterian high school kid I had been just a couple of years before.

In between those two things, I had read a great deal, had thought a great deal, and had made a number of decisions that were to change my life irretrievably. I enlisted in the USAF, because I had dropped out of college and was about to be drafted. I had done my obligatory cross-country journey of self-discovery. I had stood and listened to Dr. M. L. King, Jr. give his "How Long? Not Long" speech in Alabama after the Selma march. I had visited a number of important and significant places in the United States and had thought some more.

I wasn't quite ready to plan anything much about my life, though, at that time. I wasn't sure enough of which direction I should take. So, when I got my draft notice, I marched into the USAF recruiter's office and said, "Recruit me, please." He did. So, I found myself wearing a uniform and studying Russian at Syracuse University, thanks to the Air Force. That was a very strange set of unexpected circumstances. Being in the USAF meant that I had some additional time to do more reading and thinking before making a big life choice.

My roommate at Russian Language school, a devout Catholic, asked me, "What will you give up for Lent?" It was an odd question, I thought. My Presbyterian upbringing hadn't focused on Lenten sacrifices, so that question had never come up. I didn't answer my roommate. But, I answered the question for myself.

I gave up Christianity for Lent in 1966. It was time. My drifting away from religion was complete by then. There was nothing left of any naive, youthful faith I had had. All that reading and thinking had erased it. So, I gave up Christianity for Lent and moved on with my life.

It worked out just fine for me.

[guillaumeb]

1. Naivete does not necessarily stop with age. Agreed?

All of my reading and thinking actually strengthened my faith.

Imagine that. And it worked out just fine for me as well.

[MineralMan]

2. But, you see, guillaumeb, I was telling MY story, not yours.

I don't know yours, frankly. I do know mine, though. I'm sure you don't mind if I provide glimpses into how I came to be who I am with regard to religion, right? This is the Religion Group, so my relating something having to do with my journey as it relates to religion is on topic for this group, I believe.

Perhaps we read different books. I'd guess that was the case. Perhaps we listened to different speeches. Perhaps we have different experiences. I'm happy to share mine. I'm having difficulty seeing how your reply has anything to do with what I posted, really.

But, I'm certainly not naive. Not even a little. Besides, I didn't mention you at all in my post. I didn't even think of you, in fact.

[volstork]

3. A brilliant response.

We all have our own stories. Yours resonates with me.

[MineralMan]

4. Thanks. I'm glad of that.