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My house is decorated for Mardi Gras/Epiphany. From the Epiphany side, it is the season of light coming into the world. From the Mardi Gras side it is, at least for me, the season of celebrating friends with music and good food. When most people around us were taking down their Christmas trees and putting away decorations for the year, my husband took down Christmas, then up went Mardi Gras with even more decorations than Christmas. The tree is the same, but the lights have changed to purple, green and gold, as have the decorations. Beads hang from wall sconces and line the stair rails. The music on the stereo in the evening has a New Orleans beat. Ash Wednesday I will leave the house in the morning, and when I return after evening service, all the decorations will be gone. When I walk in the door, the purple, green and gold that has been draping everything will be gone, and the feeling is stark. Lent has arrived. If the feeling is “huh?” That is what is intended. The distractions are gone. It is time to refocus.
Lent traces its roots back to when new converts to the Faith were prepared to be presented at the Great Easter Vigil for admission into the Church. Lent is a time for us also to prepare ourselves again for what the Joy of Easter holds for us. That can be through cleaning out those things that are distracting us from doing what we know is right or deeply trusting that God is for us and for our world. It can also be taking up a spiritual exercise toward love, hope, courage or faith. Lent is not about a game of giving up Chocolate or Coffee but rather giving up those things, behaviors or attitudes that tear down ourselves or others and that 2 will ultimately move us away from God and those whom we have been called to love as our neighbors. Keep your coffee and look for something to change in your life for the better, even if it is saying “Hi” to the stranger you see every day but have never spoken to, or maybe just a friendly smile to the people who walk past you as you go about your day. Lent is supposed to be a little uncomfortable. But so is exercise, and in the long run it is good for us. Wishing you a Holy Lent this year. Pastor Jessie McKenzie
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