Lent begins today!

What is Lent? Are you giving up something for Lent? Perhaps you are part of a new thought pattern and you are going to be “Doing Something” for Lent.

In the Christian tradition, Lent is 40 days of fasting and prayer beginning with Ash Wednesday and concluding on the Saturday before Easter. I can already hear all of you math whizzes right now . . . saying, “Wait there is more than 40 days during that time period!” Your right! Sundays are not included in the 40 days of Lent. So for all of you folks who are fasting during Lent, did you know that you could take Sundays off? Yes, that is right; in fact, you should never fast on Sundays because Sundays are celebration days (or feast days) in the Christian tradition. Every Sunday is considered a “little Easter.”

Today is Ash Wednesday and you may see people walking around town with a dark smudge on their foreheads. This indicates that they have likely attended a worship service where a black cross, made of ashes was put on their forehead. This worship service marks the beginning of the Lenten season and reminds the worshipers “from dust they came and to dust they will return.” It is also a symbol of repentance. So if you see someone, with something on his or her forehead today, you might want to ask before you try to wipe it off.

There are many traditions for families and faiths that surround the Lenten season.  Do you have any special memories of this upcoming season?