Lent the perfect time to reflect

Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of 40 days of Lent. A good time to get your life together, if you think it needs to be put into order.

The past several weeks have been truly busy ones, getting all of those first of the year bills that come due, collecting all of those important documents for your accountant to put together to find out how you stand with Uncle Sam. And there are all those first of the month bills that come in, added to the year round bills. It’s enough to make your head swim and there comes a time when you have to take stock of all of this. The Lenten days are a god time.

The 40 days of Lent have symbolized variously the 40 days Moses spent on Mount Sinai, the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness or the 40 days our Lord fasted and was tempted by Satan in the desert. We always knew when Ash Wednesday arrived at our house as there were always hot cross buns for breakfast on that day.

We enjoyed this breakfast treat from Grandmother’s hands all through the Lenten season, along with the Easter bread treat. We wouldn’t have them again until the next year.

Grandma as well as my mom stressed the importance of this holy season and we would discuss topics pertaining to what Lent should mean to everyone at the dinner table during the evening meal. We didn’t have sacrificial meals but we as children were encouraged to sacrifice something during the season in order to teach us of starv- ing people in other parts of the world as well as our own.

It is also a time to think of others who aren’t as fortunate as the people in the U.S. who have freedom and foodstuffs that we accept without any thought. There are so many countries where starvation is a daily thing. This is a good time for those Lenten thoughts. It is also a time for giving of ourselves and thoughts of so many others. If you aren’t the person who gets out to church each week, this might be the time to try getting up and attending a service on a Sunday morning or perhaps an evening service where they’re offered. Or another way of stopping in one of His houses might be just by yourself on your lunch hour. Doors are generally open days in most churches and you can drop in and sit in a pew by yourself with your thoughts. The Lenten season is usually one of the times that I find this to be a quieting and peaceful way of worshipping.

As I mentioned many times, these special seasons are great times to think of those who are shut in, especially in snow and ice times. They always welcome someone to say “hello” to if only for a 10 or 15 minute visit. It means someone is thinking of them and gives them joy for the rest of the day. Take along one of the hot cross buns I mentioned. They are available in bakeries and supermarkets throughout the whole season.

Just let this season be one of feeling good about yourself and doing good. It is a time when we work up to that glorious Easter time.