Did you hear?  It’s Ash Wednesday!

Growing up in a non-denominational church, I never learned about Ash Wednesday or Lent.  I heard about it.

My Lutheran grandmother observed Lent, talking about giving up meat or chocolate or something, but I don’t remember observing the tradition. A quick online search will give you background and history to this worldwide Christian observation, which may or may not turn you on to the opportunity.

I’ve spent the morning reading several articles about the whats and hows and whys of this season.  The idea is to prepare for an Easter celebration, another Christian observance either not observed or even sometimes ridiculed in the world of my young life.  But I am thankful to now see the value of a wider fellowship of the faithful and participation in some of the traditional events from which I was once sequestered.

Today, many Christians around the world will declare their faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God and the Lord of all, through what in every case will be a comparatively minute sacrifice in honor and a preparation for a celebration of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

Some will give up chocolate or meat or coffee or the like for the season.  Others will use the season to move toward a hopefully more permanent move to holiness.  But all will in some way, in their own way, take one intentional step closer to Christ.

Maybe it’s something to look into….