Beyond Words

Earlier today I blogged about St. Valentine and why we celebrate Valentine’s Day but then it dawned on me: yes, today is special because it’s Valentine’s Day but it’s also special because it’s Ash Wednesday and it’s extra special because the two fall on the same day this year. But wait! I’m not supposed to eat all those valentine treats and candies today as I begin fasting for Lent? And what about a nice boned-in ribeye for dinner? Hmmmm…

Lucky for me, my husband and I don’t celebrate big on Valentine’s Day because tomorrow is our anniversary and that’s when we do something special. But what about the rest of you lovers of each other and lovers of faith? What to do, what to do, right?!

Here’s an idea: let the fact that Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day this year remind you of the beautiful connection between God’s love and sacrifice. I also love a text I received from my friend Donna suggesting we take today as a message to love everyone and be kind this Lenten season. Lastly, think about reversing it all and since this day of love falls on this day of forgoing vices, plan a Lent that starts  with love as our compass throughout the 40 days ahead.

But first, what is Ash Wednesday, why is it celebrated, why 40 days, and what’s with the ashes?

Ash Wednesday is observed by Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, and other Christian denominations and is a day of fasting and abstinence from meat. Churches hold masses and services for the distribution of ashes, which are ancient symbols of repentance and remind us of our mortality and the “ashes to ashes” bible verse quoted above. When we receive ashes in the form of a cross on our foreheads, we remember we belong to Christ and we ask Him to develop in us a spirit of humility and sacrifice, much like He did for us.

Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, which is 40 days of quiet and reflection leading up to Easter Sunday. Why 40 days? The 40 days are rooted in the biblical usage of the number and its significance throughout. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt toward the Promised Land, God’s people endure 40 days of challenges from Goliath before David is sent to fight for his people, after His baptism Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights to battle Satan, and after His crucifixion and resurrection He remained and walked with His disciples for 40 days and nights before ascending to heaven.

For our 40 days of Lent, we try to slow down and listen to God and we often “give up” things as a way of sacrifice and respect for Jesus’ sacrifice on Good Friday.

Yes, we “give up things” like sodas, coffee, alcohol, social media, TV…whatever we choose…but we also focus on Jesus’ own words regarding the three main disciplines of Lent:  praying, fasting, and giving alms, also known as charity. It is said that prayer demonstrates our relationship with God, fasting demonstrates our relationship with our inner self, and giving alms demonstrates our relationship with others. We might give up sweets or fatty foods but we shouldn’t do it to lose weight necessarily, but rather to hunger for God. As the brilliant Father Jared says, “If you’re not hungry for God, you’re probably too full of yourself.”

Okay, we can for sure give up things, but we should also give and do things…good things like:

Fast from judging others; feast on loving them

Fast from differences; feast on unity

Fast from perfection; feast on acceptance

Fast from hurting; feast on kind words

Fast from sadness; feast on joy

Fast from thoughts of illness; feast on the healing power of God

Fast from words that pollute; feast on words that purify

Fast from envy; feast on gratitude

Fast from anger; feast on patience

Fast form pessimism; feast on hope

Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation

Fast from worry; feast on trust

Here are some more things to give up for Lent:

• Guilt
• Fear
• The need to please everyone
• Envy
• Impatience
• Resentment
• Blame
• Gossip
• Entitlement
• Apathy
• Hatred
• Negativity
• Comparison
• Overcommitment
• Fear of failure
• Feelings of unworthiness
• Doubt
• Self-pity
• Bitterness
• Your comfort zone
• Worry
• Pride

Maybe we all just need to slow down and look inward rather than outward and remember the only person you should try to impress is God. Such great ideas for things to fast from during Lent and every day.