Today is Ash Wednesday, an important date in the Christian year.  Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent.  Lent is a forty-day period prior to Easter.  In determining the forty-days, we do not count the Sundays (as these are considered commemorations of the Resurrection) between Ash Wednesday and Easter.  That means Lent begins on February 6th and ends on March 22 this year. 

Lent serves as a time of relection and an opportunity to focus on the sacrifice Jesus made for the world.  It is a time to prepare ourselves for the celebration of the Resurrection.  Why 40 days?  Great question… 

The 40 days represents the 40 days that Jesus withdrew into the wilderness to fast and prepare for the launching of his earthly ministry.  <Read about this event in Jesus’ life>

Ken Collins makes the following observations about Lent on his website:

Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. All churches that have a continuous history extending before AD 1500 observe Lent. The ancient church that wrote, collected, canonized, and propagated the New Testament also observed Lent, believing it to be a commandment from the apostles.  

In many countries, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching) has become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. For centuries, it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat during Lent, which is why some people call the festival Carnival, which is Latin for farewell to meat.

Now you know the origins of ‘Fat Tuesday’… the day just before Lent begins.  Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras evolved into a last chance effort to ’sin-like-mad’ before settling down for a season of repentance and reflection during Lent.  (Sort of twisting the true intention of the Lent season, right?)  Today most people do not even realize the connection to Jesus Christ and thus Mardi Gras has become just another excuse to ’sin-like-mad’… 

Many Christ-followers sacrifice something for the season of Lent.  The idea is to give up something and then allow yourself to reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made everytime you are tempted to indulge in what you have given up.  This year I gave up all beverages other than water - no soda, no tea, no milk, no lemonade, nothing but good old H20.  So every time I meet someone at Starbucks I am reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice as I order a water.  Every meal I eat I am reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice as I drink my water.  In the morning, in the evening, whenever I get thirsty and want to pull through the Chik-fil-a drive through and order an Arnold Palmer (lemonade + sweet tea… my favorite), I am reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice. 

In the past I have given up everything from ice cream to meat.  When I explained to my children what I was giving up this year, my 10 year old son, Brady, wanted to give up water (”only Coke for me these 40 days”).  Nice try, Brady.  Of course I explained (yet again, he tried to give up homework last year) that ’sacrifice’ means we give up something we like.  The sacrifice does not have to be something edible.  I know of people who have given up television, golfing, surfing the web, all reading (magazines, newspaper, etc) except for the Bible… the list goes on.

I encourage you to give something up for Lent this year.  Since I began this spiritual practice several years ago the Easter season has become so much more meaningful, alive and real for me.  The daily constant reminder of the sacrifice Jesus became for me, for the world, has kept me focused.  If this is your first year giving something up, you may want to start with something small… no need to go big and then cave in halfway through Lent.  Satrt simple.  My 9 year old daughter, Skylar, has been sacrificing something for Lent for the past 3 years.  This year she is giving up Dr. Pepper, a great choice for her.  Maybe you could give up your favorite drink, favorite TV show or favorite dessert?

I look forward to throwing back an Arnold Palmer while Skylar downs a Dr. Pepper on Easter Sunday… what will be your special indulgence to celebrate on Resurrection Sunday?

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