What a Non-Catholic Can Learn from Observing Lent

A week ago was Ash Wednesday. I saw many people at work going about with a black ash cross on their forehead. Although I am not a Catholic by any stretch of the imagination, I have always respected Lent. I think it has a beautiful symbolism, in so far as my understanding goes. If you want to learn more generally about Lent, here's a good overview. The forty days of Lent (Sundays do not 'count' because Sundays are a celebration of salvation) mark a time of prayer, penance, and fasting (meaning a different diet, not total starvation) in preparation for the resurrection of Christ at Easter. Many people see the temporary sacrifices of Lent (chocolate, TV, internet) as another way to do penance, develop self-discipline, and remember the sacrifice of Christ -- for instance, this 25-item list put together by and for teenagers. Pretty impressive for high school students, right? One could argue it is artificial hardship, but I was thinking how valuable it could be for anyone, not just the Lent-observing Christian, to 'do without' for 44 days.

It seems this practice would bring us closer to those people who have less than we do, while reminding us that we have much more than we think. Especially during this Great Recession, I've been remembering the old saying, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." Not that I live a deprived life -- we live in comparative luxury on our modest income (ie my research stipend and his intern stipend). But of course it's good to be careful and frugal with money, and to be thankful for what you have -- no matter how much it is.

The 44 days of Lent are also valuable to the non-Catholic as a dedicated time to learn a new habit. It takes people anywhere from 18 to 91 days (depending on the individual, the behavior being learned, and which study you read) to really establish a habit, but 44 days is a pretty solid amount of time to devote to a new practice. Check out this Slate article on one (Indian-American) woman's experiment with becoming a morning person. You could apply this to anything, from nagging your children/spouse/employees all the way to kicking a dependence on caffeine, alcohol, or cigarettes. Speaking of which, isn't it neat that our medical school's first-year syllabus requires that we attend an AA meeting if we've never been to one, so that we understand what it is we are recommending to patients?

So my Catholic neighbors and colleagues have inspired me to re-examine my own life. What do I indulge in? What could I do without? What would make me a better person?  I think as I get older (I'm now 27 years and 4 months old), I need to decide what my priorities are going to be. As a high school student, especially, I had this strange idea that I could do everything. I could act in plays, sing in a choir, choreograph dances, ride horses competitively, study hard, do research, volunteer, etc etc. And I could do it all, but I was perpetually exhausted, never saw my family or friends, and I think I averaged about 4-5 hours of sleep a night my junior and senior years. Obviously (in hindsight), that was not sustainable. However, we'll see if I've still got it (residency is coming)!

Our little older Siamese (she's 13) had a health scare this weekend: she chewed a bump off her shoulder which turned out to be benign (a self-operating cat! Dr. Cat, M.D!). But the reminder that she, like all of us, is mortal made me want more focus in my life. I am currently deciding on a specialty (almost there; really close to deciding), starting a marriage, and trying to find enough time for family and close friends. Given that I am in the medical field, I don't know how much room there will be for anything else. Maybe kids, someday? Running? Riding? Pets? I don't think I'll be choreographing another can-can anytime soon.

At this point, I want to devote more time to my career and calling -- to becoming a really good doctor. It takes way more time than I had anticipated. But not more time than it deserves. Because it's worse to be a lousy doctor than to not be one at all. I'm in a research lab at the moment, but the MD is the goal. I need to start thinking about my future patients: which skills do I need to acquire in order to be the doctor they would want? So until Easter, I am going to read one article or chapter every day that will make my sub-internships easier during fourth year and beyond. I am also going to spend ten minutes each morning in a lovely meditation taught to me by a friend who was also a minister a few years ago. It went something like this:

The Friend Map:
Picture a map of the United States or the globe in your mind. Picture everyone whom you carry in your heart -- friends, loved ones, colleagues, frienemies, or any other group -- as pinpoints on that map. Now scroll across the continent, sending a prayer/good wish for each person. This cultivates gratitude for their presence and a loving demeanor, both of which will strengthen your ability to weather storms. And who knows? They may sense that someone is thinking of them/praying for them.