An Ash(less) Wednesday
This past Wednesday, we spent the day in Manhattan. Last June, I had purchased tickets to see Tom Felton (of Draco Malfoy notoriety) in HP and The Cursed Child, completely unaware that it was Ash Wednesday1. I will say it was quite pleasant to meander the streets of Midtown and see the occasional smudged cross on people’s foreheads.
The last seven days have not been easy ones in our home: We’ve all had a head cold, my knee is still problematic, our microscopically small church community has me frustrated, and distressing news in our community. Whatever intentions I had of writing anything for Lent went out the window. Just as well. I’m sure someone else out there has said what I was thinking, and done it better.
From a quick perusal of the internet it seems that there are at least a handful of people who are crawling in to Lent, exhausted, defeated, and feeling not ready for the days ahead. We’re heading in to the busiest and, in my opinion, hardest days of the Liturgical calendar: The days leading up to Jesus’ death.
At the beginning of the new year I saw numerous posts about how the year shouldn’t begin in January. Meaning that we should not be pushing for high energy change, during the darkest months of the year. That the year was intentioned to begin in the spring, thus September (Sept - 7), October (Oct - 8), etc. March, the new year should begin in March…right around the same time as Christ’ death and resurrection.
While the rest of the world is seeing peeks of Spring. While they days are growing longer and the sun brighter, we, here in the Northeast, will remain entrenched in Winter, for most likely, the next 2 months. How can we think about growth, while still struggling to survive? I’ve a thought about this: The new year should begin at Easter. "He who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' Revelation 21:5.
Perhaps we are looking at this all wrong. We are meant to come staggering to the Cross, just as Jesus did: Whipped, exhausted, wounded, shamed, betrayed, pouring out our every last effort on attempting to be faithful. Maybe Christ’s resurrection is meant to be simultaneous with our own renewal, leaning into a season of restoration and rebirth.
Maybe others have already had this thought and I’m late to the party. For me, for this season of Lent, it makes perfect sense. What are your thoughts on this?
This article is written by Jessica M. White: Wife. Mom of 5. Seeker of God's Truth and Beauty. Drinker of ink, baker of chocolate chip cookies, lover of words and learning.
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In my defense, it was the middle of the kids’ February school break.
I love this!!!