Noticeably Different
My ashes were a magnet last week. The smudged cross of palm branch ash prompted several conversations at the gym this past Ash Wednesday. My ashes had been on since around 10 that morning, so by the time 4pm rolled around, I wasn’t actively thinking about the ashes on my forehead. But other people noticed them and even said something. I had a nice conversation with the young lady at the front desk about the rarity of Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day falling on the same day, and how a little over 40 days from now we’ll be celebrating Easter. Lent had “snuck up on her,” but my ashes were a visual reminder for her. Then a fellow gym goer walked up to me in the locker room, and she asked what time Mass had I gone to. She planned on going that evening to Mass for her ashes.
I love how the outward sign of my ashes stirred conversation and awareness of the Lenten season. Your own ashes may have done the same. From its start, Lent looks a little different on us. Now that we’re in the second week of Lent, we may feel noticeably different too.
Catholics love Lent. I would even go further to say that it’s not just Catholics who love Lent. There are some pretty amazing fish fries during the Lenten season that, Christian or not, people patronize. Why do we love Lent? Telling the world how much we miss chocolate or beer or whatever it is we are giving up may not be the best way to take up our cross and bear it, but it is a very human reaction to fasting from something we enjoy or take comfort from. Of course we know we aren’t supposed to announce to the world what we are fasting from, but we can look at sharing as an opportunity to help one another stay the course and hold each other accountable to following Jesus’ fasting in the desert for 40 days. Jesus was alone in the desert to contend with the devil, but you and I have the benefit of walking together in the desert.
Lent should be noticeably different. And deep down, I think that’s what we love about it. It's an intentional break in routine - for good reason. Lent allows us to enter into the life of Jesus. Our calendar is anchored on moments in the lives of Jesus, Mary, and the first Christians! I think we forget that sometimes. During Lent, we purposefully draw closer to modeling Jesus’ own prayer and fasting. We join our suffering with His. When we choose to live differently during Lent, refinement and renewal of our relationship with Jesus are possible.
Depending on what you are giving up or adding to your Lent, this season may feel noticeably different - spiritually, physically, or even emotionally. When we unite our Lenten promise with Jesus’ sacrifices, our efforts immediately gain meaning and motivation.
Our ashes are gone, so Lent does not look different on us anymore. But may your Lent feel noticeably different and impact your current relationship with Jesus and others.