Damnation For A Ham Sandwich?

I woke up this morning feeling a little better. Thanks for asking. Now please mind your own business. I'm faced with an even bigger problem today. This is the first Friday of Lent. For the non-Catholics in the group, one of the "rules" of Lent is that you can't eat meat on Friday. This is hard for a dyed in the wool carnivore like myself. Every year, I find myself wondering if this is really an important part of my spiritual journey.

This doctrine came about centuries ago and is rumored to have been passed on by a pope that had interests in the fishing business. That doesn't seem hard to believe. People in power are always looking out for their friends and family. I'd do the same thing. Maybe if I become pope, president, or even just a special event at the clubs, I'll toss a bone to my cronies.

I don't see how giving up meat on Friday makes me appreciate Jesus' suffering in the desert. Fish is delicious, shrimp is succulent (you heard me) and even the Old Country Buffet has crab legs. I don't see the sacrifice part. Maybe I'm missing something. Does a PB&J bring me closer to God? If I do eat a Big Mac today, other than it being a poor choice of nutrition, does it really earn me eternal damnation? Doesn't the church have bigger fish to fry (pun intended)? I think a T-Bone on Friday comes way down the list behind priests abusing children, but maybe that's just me.

I believe God has better things to do than monitor my dietary intake. There's war, famine, the whole Nick and Jessica thing. I spent twelve years in Catholic schools, and struggle to make sense of all these crazy rules. Some of them just seem silly and like a way for guys in funny hats to control the masses. Now I feel guilty. That's one of the finest tools the Catholic church has. Maybe I'll console myself with a nice lobster dinner. That's some sacrifice. Have a great weekend! Later...Brian