Become a Bag Lady (or Guy)

Once upon a time, I used to practice Lent. This is the period (forty days and nights) prior to Jesus' death on the cross when he was offered temptations in the Garden of Gethsemane. The dates vary each year, but Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter. It is meant to be a time of prayer and fasting/denial in Christian religions (I'm a former Episcopalian). where you are encouraged to give up something you enjoy and donate the money you would have spent on this item to the church or another worthy cause. At least that's how it was presented to me.

One year, many moons ago, instead of omitting something, I decided to commit something. I used this time of Lent to give to others rather than deny myself. I made sack lunches and gave them away to the homeless or those with signs on the street corner. I continued this practice throughout the Lenten season that year, and for awhile after Easter.

I mentioned this to The Princess once and she said, "Let's do it again!" We went to Sam's and bought tins of Vienna sausages, packages of cookies and crackers, juice boxes, individual servings of fruit, and candy. We bagged them up, along with a copy of the St. Francis prayer. I always kept two or three in the car, restocking as they were distributed.

We like the idea of giving food rather than money; when you give money, you never know if it's really going for food or something else. At least with the bagged meals, there will be something for them to eat that day. 

All our sack lunches are gone, so it's time to head back to Sam's for more supplies. It's easy to do and I would encourage anyone to give it a try, so that you, too, can be an instrument of peace.

Have you practiced random acts of kindness? Have you ever been a bag lady (or guy)?

Have you been there?