smallhobbit | Sunshine Challenge - Day Six

What can I say about Amethyst? One of the associations mentioned is that of spirituality and that's the one I shall pick up on. In the Church of England tradition (and I assume the Roman Catholic one, since the Anglicans simply continued with the parts they were happy with and just jettisoned the other - something religious leaders have continued to do to this day: taking the bits which fitted their own viewpoint) there are three main colours for the altar cloth (the tablecloth put over the altar), namely green, white and purple. White is for major feasts (Christmas and Easter), purple for Advent and Lent (which probably have correct terms, I'm not interested so never remember) and green is for what is termed 'ordinary time', which just means all the rest. There's red as well but that's only a few Sundays.

Advent and Lent are times for reflection. I know Lent has the tradition of giving things up, but that only makes sense if there's a reason for doing so. Yes, I do try to restrict some of my online time, cutting back on scrolling and unsubscribing from various email lists, which does have some personal benefit. And it prompts me to eat less biscuits/cake, or at least think about it, which again is no bad thing. Advent has a tendency to be swallowed up in preparation for Christmas, and there are the delights of Advent calendars. I always treat myself to a Jacquie Lawson Advent calendar, which provides a little drop of fun in what can get to be quite a fraught time. And the online calendar the Open University provides has introduced me to some free short courses I would never have thought of otherwise, and is therefore a Good Thing as Pooh Bear would say, continuing to broaden my horizons.

Lent has less attractions. There is as mentioned the 'giving up', but for me it provides the opportunity to think a bit more. Again there can be the tendency to look at one's failings (what might have been termed sins), however for me it provides something more positive. A chance to look back and decide that an activity has run its course, and it's time to move onto something new. Possibly a shift in direction, not so much a complete about face, but a small change, due to circumstances changing. And 40 days is a long time, so no need for quick decisions with equally quick regrets. And the opportunity to try something, without any major commitment. I've been surprised at how I've begun Lent with vague thoughts and ideas and finished with some positive concrete outcomes.