[MUSIC]

Brian Lehrer: Brian Lehrer on WNYC. All right. We've got 10 minutes left in the show. We went a little long with Eric Klinenberg because that was so rich. We're going to use our last 10 minutes for your calls on how you're observing Lent. Obviously, we want short answers on that for today, but what do you do to observe Lent? Is it giving up something, like we tend to say, in shorthand, or is there something else that you do spiritually for yourself or for the world that marks your observance of Lent?

Lent, of course, began on Wednesday, same day as Valentine's Day. People were walking around with hearts and people were walking around with dots on their heads. Weird convergence of two holidays, Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day. What do you do for Lent? What are you doing this year for Lent? Is it different than other years? 212-433-WNYC. 212-433-9692.

There is some time-honored Lenten sacrifices, as they're called. People might give up sweets, alcohol, coffee for a month. Others give up gossiping, complaining, maybe profanity. Have you given up one of those classics in the past? Why that? What are you doing this year? What are you doing for Lent? Call up with your observations. We have 10 minutes left in the show. You call up, you'll get right on. 212-433-WNYC. Maybe you think there's a lesson in what you do for lent for other people, Christian or not? 212-433-WNYC. 212-433-9692.

A very contemporary one. Did you hear that on Wednesday? Pope Francis urged Catholics to forego social media this Lent. Anybody doing that? 212-433-WNYC, but on anything that you do to observe Lent in 2024. 212-433-9692. Call or text and we'll take your calls right after this.

[MUSIC]

Brian Lehrer on WNYC. Okay. We have some interesting things that people are doing to observe Lent. We'll start with Nancy in Brooklyn. Nancy, you are on WNYC. Hi. Thanks for calling in.

Nancy: Hi. Thanks for taking my call. I'm part of a parish called St. Francis Xavier in Manhattan. Our environment ministry, which I'm a part of, does a Lenten Carbon Fast Calendar,for Lent.

Brian Lehrer: Wow.

Nancy: It's full of suggestions of things that you can do for learning more about climate change, pray about it, and take action to lessen your carbon footprint.

Brian Lehrer: Wow. Where can I get one of those? I'd like to see a Lenten Carbon Fast Calendar.

Nancy: You can email SFX, which stands for St. Francis Xavier, Environment ministry@gmail.com and I'll make sure that you get it.

Brian Lehrer: I think I'm going to do that. Nancy, thank you for starting us off. John in Livingston, New Jersey, you're on WNYC. Hi, John.

John: Hi, Brian. Every year at Lent, I look back at my life and think about some of the people who made a difference in my life or who really helped me along. I write about half a dozen letters to them and thanking them for whatever it is they did to me or for me.

Brian Lehrer: That's wonderful. Letters for Lent. Matthew in Spring Lake, you're on WNYC. Hi, Matthew.

Matthew: Hi, Brian. For Lent, I try to be more mindful of others and I try to be a little bit more patient, especially when driving. I'm a practicing Catholic, although I have some problems with the church. I try to attend mass maybe a few more times during the week and whatnot.

Brian Lehrer: More patient while driving, so you're not flipping as many people who cut you off the bird as you do the rest of the year. Is that it?

Matthew: Correct. I try to carry that out through the year as well.

Brian Lehrer: Matthew. Thank you very much. Diana in Asbury Park, you're on WNYC. Hi, Diana.

Diane: Hello. I'm not Catholic, but I enjoy this time of year to really look at, or taking the opportunity to see what I might be able to transform or change my life. I decided this year I'm going to give up that something's wrong and look for instead what's going right. It doesn't mean the circumstances change, but my outlook on it will change.

Brian Lehrer: Giving up as much negativity for Lent. Love it. Frederick in Princeton. Lot of New Jerseyans observing Lent, based on our caller board. 212-433-WNYC if you want to get in. Hi, Frederick.

Frederick: Yes. I'm calling because my concerns are down here on earth. They're not concerned up in the heavens. I'm trying to avoid Donald Trump and all the Republicans. Not that I'm not fighting the battle for the liberal and the left, which I am, but I'm just avoiding all of the noise that I can't deal with anymore. That would be tremendous for me. It would make my life a lot easier. I hope others also.

Brian Lehrer: Frederick, thank you very much and I'm glad you don't consider us part of the noise. Marsha in Queens, I think on a similar note, right, Marsha?

Marsha: Yes. I'm giving up anger, just generally. Hello? Are you there?

Brian Lehrer: Yes, I hear you.

Marsha: Okay. Yes, I'm giving up being spontaneously angry at people who are spontaneously angry about something I may have said that they didn't like, and people I love. This is with people I love or don't love. I'm just being more patient with people.

Brian Lehrer: All right. Suspending heated debates, it sounds like, for Lent and being more kind. Marsha. That's wonderful. Lonnie in Warren New Jersey as our jersey Lent Parade continues. Lonnie, you're on WNYC. Hello.

Lonnie: Hi. I'm not giving up anything. I'm adding something to my days. For about an hour, every day, I'm either writing notes or letters to people who I know could use them. I'm also making phone calls all over the place and it's been a wonderful experience so far.

Brian Lehrer: That is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it. Maria in Astoria, you're on WNYC. Hi Maria.

Maria: Hello, Brian Lehrer. This is Maria. The condition for lent, I am going today for a treat in Villa Maria de Guadalupe. Villa Maria de Guadalupe is the former house of the [unintelligible 00:06:48] Miller, the writer. Are you there?

Brian Lehrer: Yes, I'm listening.

Maria: I want to say also, then, I have photos of you. Then, I took it, and I want to send to you, I don't know how and to say also then I love you very much.

Brian Lehrer: Oh, that is so sweet.

Maria: This is Maria [unintelligible 00:07:08] the artist in Astoria.

Brian Lehrer: Maria, thank you. I'm really touched. Producer will pick up, and give you our mailing address. I don't know how you got a picture of me. Were you stalking me? No, I'm just kidding. I'd love to see what you have. Thank you very much for sharing that.

Guess what? That's where we're going to end it because we're out of time. I will just say that what I am not giving up for Lent are Mary Croke, Lisa Allison, Amina Srna, Carl Boisrond, Esperanza Rosenbaum, and Zach Gotteher-Cohen who make this show, and its related podcasts, or our intern for this term, Ethlyn Daniel-Scherz.

Definitely not giving up Megan Ryan, the head of live Radio, or Juliana Fonda and Milton Ruiz, who are at the audio controls today. Have a great weekend everyone, and stay tuned for Allison.

[MUSIC]

Copyright © 2024 New York Public Radio. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use at www.wnyc.org for further information.

New York Public Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline, often by contractors. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of New York Public Radio’s programming is the audio record.