beauty from ashes and tgit, too

Lent is in the air. Every Lent I get this distinctly Lentish feeling.  It’s as tangible as that first cold front that threatens winter’s arrival on a crisp November (or December if you’re in Texas) day.  My life atmosphere is permeated with the reality of the Church’s season shift from Ordinary to anything-but-ordinary time. 

Lent carries with it not just the loom of 40 days of no sweets, or announcements at church of Stations of the Cross and Friday fish fries.  If we allow our Lord to take us deeper than that, He always does.  Ask and you shall receive.  

purple sky in honor of this purple season

Lent has become a time of renewal, and detachment from the numerous little distractions that draw my mind and heart, even if it’s just for a few minutes, away from God-the One Who made my mind and heart.  It has become a reminder that we are dust and to dust we shall return; and truly, the most important thing in our life is Christ and His sacrifice for us that gave us hope for the day we will become dust again.

Beauty for Ashes. That's what Jesus offers us.  To join Christ in the desert through sacrifice and preparation for the commemoration of His Passion, death and Resurrection. That is what the things we give up or the extra acts of service we take up are for.  Little daily reminders that there is more for us in this life than the little pleasures it affords in the form of a spoonful of nutella or a perfectly cold and bubbly sip of your favorite glass of whatever-you-like.  

Those are gifts from the Father Who Loves us and loves to give us good things, but His greatest and best gift-the gift that makes all other gifts good-is Jesus.  Jesus Who went into the desert for 40 days and took no food or drink.  Jesus Who left Heaven to be with us and give us the chance to be there with Him.  That is what Lent is for. That is what our entire life is for. To bring us closer to Jesus.  To unite us to Him through imitating Him in small ways throughout these 40 days.  To go into the desert with Him, and come out ready to walk with Him to Calvary, be buried with Him, and rejoice with all of creation when He raises us up with Himself.  

Ash Wednesday was a beautiful, high of 63 degree full of happiness in the thought that “this is winter??!”  kind of day. 

Fasting is never easy, but the Lord provides unlooked for and unanticipated consolations.  We offer up a couple of measly meals, and He gives us His Body for food.  And then a beautiful, sunny day to boot.  I opened the front door and stretched out on the floor right smack in the perfect stream of sunshine like my beloved cat Bootsie (I miss that little flea bag) was wont to do in the days of yore.  Ella came and rested her weary little head upon my back, and we had ourselves a cat nap in the February miracle that was taking place outside.  And I had one of those moments of “this is my job. Thank you, God”.   

And while we are on the subject of good things from God, did I mention it’s Thursday? Well, consider it mentioned. Start the chant in your head: TGIT TGIT TGIT!!!!

I hope your 2nd day of Lent is sunny, bright, and full of beautiful desert wanderings with Jesus as your companion.  The desert is very beautiful, too, after all.  And it’s TGIT there, as well.  So love it up.