Quote:
Originally Posted by
kwilkinson 
I don't mean to be disrespectful of the way anyone believes, so please don't take it that way, but I do have a question. Do people really think that giving up incredibly inconsequential things for Lent matters?
The sacrifice is in and of itself meaningless. What matters is, similar to what you said, to understand the notion of sacrifice and what goes along with it. That's why people tend (or maybe its not consciously done like this, I don't know) give up something pleasurable, or something that people enjoy greatly. It puts into stark contrast the pleasure/sacrifice dichotomy.
As for the self help thing, we're going to think that anything that brings us closer to God, or makes us more God-like is self help, but I know what you mean.
For me: it is going out to eat. I like to do that a lot. I will put some of that money I normally would have spent into Catholic Relief Services' Operation Rice Bowl.
PS: it is "coke:, not "pop."