Happy Mardi Gras today! It’s Shrove Tuesday. It’s the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.
Today is a good day to think about how you will participate in the Lenten season, leading up to Easter. Historically, many people ‘give up’ something that they really like during the 40 days of Lent, as a reminder of Jesus’s sacrifice of his own life. Often you will hear that people give up swearing, or chocolate, or alcohol. I get that. Yes, by giving up something it causes you to stop, pause, and think “I will not have that today… and I will remember what God did for us instead.”
In recent years there has been a movement for another way to mark the Lenten days. Instead of purposely giving up something, people purposely ADD to their lives. Whatever it is can then become a good habit during the 40 days. Maybe it’s adding a time for reflection each day, or reading the Bible daily, or going out and volunteering at a charity in your area. Perhaps it’s writing thank you notes each day, or donating money, or food, each day.
I have been thinking about it, and I know right now I need help staying positive during this time of year. Winter is cold, and I tend to hibernate indoors too much. This time of year is the ‘lull’ in the calendar year between celebrations. I tend to be a bit more blah, watching and waiting for warmth, spring, and special events that come later in the year.
So, during Lent I will use each day to send out a positive post or text message to people I know. It’s a doable, and a simple “add on” to my life, BUT it means taking time each day to think about others… to reach out. It means directing my thinking to seeing the good in people. Perhaps it is just to say “hello! I’m thinking about you”. Perhaps it will be to let them know we can never get through this life alone, and that God is our hope. Perhaps you will hear from me about something more personal about our relationship. Ha – maybe this is a warning to you. (I’ll try not to scare you.)
Lent is the journey we go along to hear about Jesus’s last days of teaching, and his path to the cross. It’s a humble time. We know the outcome after Lent, but those in Jesus’s time did not understand what was happening, and they were confused. The disciples were sad – and mad. They didn’t get why Jesus ‘allowed’ all the pain that was put on him. We are here on earth a limited amount of time and we all feel pain at times. As it is always said at church Ash Wednesday services “from dust we come and as dust we will go.” It’s scary. It seems unsure.
But, it’s not our end.
Thank God. Death is not final. Lent brings us to the Good News of Easter!
Marla’s Musings 