Rant time- Good Friday traveling

  • Thread starter Thread starter coolduude
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

coolduude

Guest
Hi all,

As some of you might know, I’m traveling today (Good Friday). So I can’t really do much in terms of reflection, prayer, etc. So to make up for it, I’m watching The Passion of the Christ on my phone (an iPhone, so it’s good), and reading about Jesus on CA or other sites.

Well, this was all fine and dandy until we got off the highway for a rest stop. Rest stop= fine. But we went to McDonalds which conflicts with me for two reasons:
  1. I’m boycotting the golden arches after watching the movie Super Size Me. If anyone has seen it, you’ll understand why I’m boycotting
  2. it’s Good Friday and I’m trying to fast a little. I was sort of out of it at breakfast so I had a large breakfast, but when I woke up more I resolved to have a small lunch in the car sometime (like poptarts or something like that).
Well we go to McDonalds, which I guess is fine for the rest of my family. They ask me what I want and I replied nothing, at which they got agitated. They insisted I must eat something, anything. I kept refusing to order but they twisted my arm into it and I just got a large order of fries (no meat for me!).

I felt like I wanted to cry when this was happening; I’m probably just overreacting but I don’t know.

It’s Good Friday. Jesus gave His life on this day, can’t we give something small in return? Just this one day? Sigh… This is all so depressing.

Thoughts?

coolduude
 
It’s Good Friday. Jesus gave His life on this day, can’t we give something small in return?
Click to expand...
Everyone should try to give something in return, but the more you try to give, the more you will be tempted not to. Remember that the biggest thing here isn’t that you ate fries or whatever, it’s that you feel that you cannot give, that you blew your chance and now its over. You ate fries, now try not to eat anymore, or whatever your fasting plan is. God always lets us start over.

And a piece of advice, when you’re fasting, try not to make a big deal about it. If they begin insisting that you eat (and it looks like you’re going to lose anyhow 🙂 ) then just give in. My bishop was visiting our church last week and he said “It is better to eat a chicken sandwich than to devour a man”. Trying to fight the issue is probably causing more trouble than eating the food is. And remember…fasting doesn’t mean just giving up food, but also giving up bad thoughts, judgments, etc.

I’m sorry today has been so hard on you, I hope it gets better. Have a blessed Good Friday.
 
coolduude said:
Hi all,

As some of you might know, I’m traveling today (Good Friday). So I can’t really do much in terms of reflection, prayer, etc. So to make up for it, I’m watching The Passion of the Christ on my phone (an iPhone, so it’s good), and reading about Jesus on CA or other sites.

Well, this was all fine and dandy until we got off the highway for a rest stop. Rest stop= fine. But we went to McDonalds which conflicts with me for two reasons:
  1. I’m boycotting the golden arches after watching the movie Super Size Me. If anyone has seen it, you’ll understand why I’m boycotting
  2. it’s Good Friday and I’m trying to fast a little. I was sort of out of it at breakfast so I had a large breakfast, but when I woke up more I resolved to have a small lunch in the car sometime (like poptarts or something like that).
Well we go to McDonalds, which I guess is fine for the rest of my family. They ask me what I want and I replied nothing, at which they got agitated. They insisted I must eat something, anything. I kept refusing to order but they twisted my arm into it and I just got a large order of fries (no meat for me!).

I felt like I wanted to cry when this was happening; I’m probably just overreacting but I don’t know.

It’s Good Friday. Jesus gave His life on this day, can’t we give something small in return? Just this one day? Sigh… This is all so depressing.

Thoughts?

coolduude
Click to expand...
I’m guessing that the rest of your family isn’t Catholic? It’s hard, being the only Catholic in the family, and it’s got to be twice as hard when you’re one of the kids. Have you explained to them that part of your religion is that we fast and abstain from meat on Good Friday? If you haven’t explained this to them, then they probably don’t understand why you are trying not to eat anything (especially meat) today.

I have explained it to my family, and out of consideration for me, they went out for breakfast this morning. I am having coffee and juice at home, and I’ll be gone to Church by the time they get back. 🙂
 
I have some thoughts!

First off, and WAY more important than my second thought, God bless you for sticking up for yourself.

Second, I hate McDonalds, I don’t eat there, and I find the place disgusting. I have seen Super Size Me, but Morgan Spurlocks arrogance made me want to eat there. You can actually eat at McDonalds for the 30 day experiement and lose weight. He purposely tried to gain it. It’s a matter of personal choice.
 
Sounds to me like you are giving quite a lot Coolduude.

Just keep doing what you are doing.

The fact that you are making others uncomfortable and that they are trying to get you to do what they are doing, is often a sign that you are doing the right things.

I’ll pray for you.
 
You’re doing great, cooldude. You should indeed be able to give things up for our Lord today, and I think you did and are through your unpleasant experiences today. Offer these up and I’m sure He will appreciate them. 👍
 
Oh but I like the fillet o fish!

I tried the burger king fish sandwich (i think it was BK) as they claim that it’s a true peice of fish which it was… but it was flavourless!
 
Contrary to PeaceSerenity, for your own good it seems to me that at some point you stick to your beliefs and use opportunnities like these to help educate your loved ones in a kind fashion. You will always be placed in this situation in life, where your personal practice will differ from those your love and work with.
btw, I am an orthodox jew.
 
Rascalking said:
That borders on Calvinistic torture!
Click to expand...
Ouch!!

Thanks everyone for the helpful and encouraging words. I appreciate it 🙂 👍

@jmcrae:

My whole family is Catholic. Yep, everyone I traveled with is Catholic. I guess their faith isn’t important enough to them because they forgot today was Good Friday and are doing the opposite of fasting, praying, and reflecting. Oh well. I’ll pray for them I suppose.
 
Hang in there, the day is almost over! My husband worked for McDonald’s for a few years, and I think “SuperSizeMe” is a worthless piece of liberal propaganda.:twocents:
 
Did they know that you were refusing food because you were fasting? Did you say, “No, I’m not hungry” or “No, I am fasting”? If it wasn’t clear to them, they were most likely only concerned about you not eating anything out of loving-instinct. I know my gut reaction when someone I care about refuses food is what’s-wrong-get-food-in-your-stomach-why-aren’t-you-eating.

By the way, I wanted to comment on this: “So I can’t really do much in terms of reflection, prayer, etc.” Sure you can. 🙂 While you’re in the car with your family, meditate on the good things they do and provide, everything you like about them (this builds charity), and how much God passionately loves each of them.

You are doing great. Know that the grace of God is working in your life!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top