While growing up, the season of Lent was a puzzlement to me. Beyond the sale of Filet‐o‐Fish sandwiches at McDonalds, there was little to suggest that the season was different from any other. The older I got, the more misunderstandings grew. From the popular culture, I knew more about Mardi Gras than the season that followed. In fact, Lent, for me, was the opposite of that celebration on Bourbon Street. Instead of indulgence, Lent was about denial. Instead of Dixieland jazz, Lent was about funeral dirges. For forty days, people gave up chocolate, caffeine or fried foods. They sat quietly with their hands folded thinking pure thoughts.
Unfortunately, I always enjoyed Dixieland jazz. As a result, I never truly observed Lent. The only problem is that Lent is really not about denial. Lent is an invitation to turn to God. We remove distractions to concentrate on Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Repentance is less about rejection and more about embracing the God who loves us. Yes, we are sinners, and our lives need to change for the better. Still, God’s grace is not dependent on our acts of piety. The cross of Christ ends in triumph, not tragedy.
Whether we observe Lent or not, the time before Easter is a wonderful opportunity to renew our faith. Come to worship, pray together, and read the Scriptures. Examine our lives and remove those things that distract us from living abundantly. Listen to the blues, but let them melt into joyous sounds of the band.
