Lenten Update
As you know, I gave up bad language in my car for Lent. Yes, I could have given up chocolate. It would have been easier.
I’ve done fairly well. I totally slipped up once, my husband was driving. At first I thought, “well it doesn’t count because I am not driving” but – it does. It counts.
I have not succeeded in not thinking the bad word. I ask forgiveness, and I ask for help not even thinking the bad words. He IS helping. My language is getting better. Alhamd’allah.
For my non-Kuwaiti, non-Middle East friends and readers, you can actually get in more trouble here for bad language than you can for crashing a car.
True story: in one country, a man was trying to get into a gated community and was refused. He was angry and wanted to back up, rather than going forward and turning around, so he put his car in reverse and gunned the engine and smashed into the car behind him. The woman driver was shocked, and just sat there. So he moved forward, and gunned the car in reverse, and hit her again! He did it a third time. She got out of her car and screamed at him “What are you doing, you a$$####???” and he had HER arrested for bad language. He stoically paid for the damage to her car, but SHE had to go to court and through a lengthy humiliating process of finding a lawyer, etc. She also had to pay a huge fine and listen to a lecture from the judge.
A wise person NEVER makes any hand gestures, either.
Giving up bad language on the highway is not only a spiritual improvement, it could also save me a lot of trouble down the road.
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Oh my God, you are right, chocolate would’ve been easier. My finger has been flying around lately and I just can’t seem to control it anymore.
Imagine how many lectures I’d get π
What do we say: Happy fasting, Lent…??
Elijah!! I find that using my whole hand in an elaborately polite sort of “tfadl” gives me great pleasure – like you know, then you are in the right lane at a light and some idiot on your right wants you to let him in because he is so important he can’t wait at the back of the line like normal people . . .
elaborate courtesy reminds him of his manners (I wish!) and keeps that finger under control!
As for Lent, there are no lenten greeting, because really, our sacrifice is supposed to be quiet and private, only between us and God. It’s supposed to be a very quiet, introspective time for us, penitence and preparation for Easter. But thank you, dear one, for asking. π
One of my son’s first swear words was “f***ing moron” from being in the car with me. π
I didn’t give up anything for lent this year. Now I’m feeling guilty.
P.S. I had no idea you could get arrested for swearing in public here?
Stinni! I am so glad to see you again! You’ve been so quiet recently. Welcome, dear one, and I wonder how you handled your son? π¦ And yes, bad language is actually considered worse than some other offences, like hitting someone!
Hi,
I am a writer/cartoonist interested in making a comic book about Kuwait, where I lived forthree years. Could I include some of your driving stories? Of course, I will give you credit. The aim is to publish them.
Thanks, Sandz
Hi,
I am an writer/cartoonist interested in including some of your car stories in a comic book I am creating about Kuwait.
Would that be alright with you? Of course, I would give you credit.
THanks
Sandz Murphy – You are welcome to use them as long as you use my blog address in the credits. And good luck, hope you are having fun.