I’m a Baptist at heart, even though we’re now members of an Evangelical Free church. In case you didn’t know, Baptists don’t celebrate Mardi Gras, or Lent or or Good Friday or even Palm Sunday; we go straight from Christmas to Easter. No preparation–just jump right from birth to resurrection, skipping lightly over that nasty old cross and those hard things that Jesus said about loving enemies and carrying your own cross. Actually, Baptists like to talk about the blood of Jesus and the old rugged cross quite a lot, but we usually save that kind of talk for summer youth camps and fall revivals.
We discussed Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday at the supper table last night over pancakes and sausage. I tried to explain to Karate Kid (who had heard that there was something bad about Mardi Gras) what the celebration of Fat Tuesday was all about and also the meaning of Ash Wednesday. The urchins are all discussing “giving up something for Lent,” but I’m trying to see this time as a time of adding something–some prayer, some silence, a little joy. Adding a little of each of those three disciplines to my life would be a good preparation for the glorious celebration of the Resurrection. And I don’t mind giving up some clutter and some noise and some wasted time to make room for the good stuff. How about you? What are you adding to your life for Lent? What are you giving up in order to make room for the important things?
Also, can anyone suggest a good read aloud book for a sort of Baptist family to read during Lent? Something that leads up to Resurrection Sunday?
The Anchoress: There’s Something About Ashes
Lent and New Year’s by Steven Riddle at FLos Carmeli
Mother-Lode: Thorns & Thistles
That’s a very good way to think of this time of year. We should add something to our lives, like silence, meditation, and prayer.
For a secular take on Lent (which is just a little funny), take a look at this article in a British newspaper. http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article348502.ece
Having been reared an Episcopalian, I miss the cycles of the church year, although as a member of Churches of Christ I now enjoy being free of many of the accretions of tradition. Lent is one thing I do miss. It’s a reminder in the midst of our Always Fine culture that suffering and death are central both to human life and the gospel. Your idea of adding something for Lent makes a whole lot more sense than simply doing without some petty luxury like candy or red meat. How about adding daily meditation on the Lenten center of the Gospel?
A good read-aloud book for the family during Lent? How about C. S. Lewis’s The Silver Chair from The Chronicles of Narnia. The book could easily be read aloud over the course of six weeks, the tone for most of the book is thoroughly Lenten, and the ending is about as Resurrection-oriented as you’ll find.