A Lenten Journey...

Today is Ash Wednesday, a day especially marked on all Catholic's calendars and on many Protestant's as well. The word Lent comes from the Germanic word for 'springtime,' as people view spring as a time of growth, a period when new life emerges from the deathlike state of winter. In the early church, this period was only two or three days and primarily intended for those preparing for baptism, but by the fourth century, it had become a period of 40 days.

The number 40 has biblical significance, as Rick Warren points out in Purpose Driven Life:

• Noah's life was transformed by 40 days of rain
• Moses was transformed by 40 days on Mount Sinai
• The spies were transformed by 40 days in the Promised Land
• David was transformed by Goliath's 40 day challenge
• Elijah was transformed when God gave him 40 days of strength from a single meal
• The entire city of Ninevah was transformed when God gave the people 40 days to change
• Jesus was empowered by 40 days in the wilderness
• The disciples were transformed by 40 days with Jesus after his resurrection.

Why don't all Christian churches celebrate Lent? I think many believe that Lent places too much emphasis on sin, guilt, and wrongdoing or Christians merely don't want to participate because it is a "tradition" of the Church, that often gets reduced in our minds to just a set of rules. Sure, we don't have to obey any church authorities, but the idea of Lent, emulating Christ's 40 days in the wilderness is certainly grounded in Scripture. I think another reason, frankly is that Lent is difficult, and requires that we examine material and spiritual excesses in our lives, that most Christians don't want to be confronted with. But isn't the reality that Jesus' life was full of poverty, simplicity, and sacrifice? Ideals we should be more than happy to strive for our entire lives.

I am going to read The Jesus I Never Knew (again) over the next forty days, as well as practice some other personal disciplines. Yancy has such a way of describing a Character I am trying hard to know. As my sister Adrienne put it, "I am reminded of how much thought, preparation, and celebration goes into [Christmas]. Weeks before Christmas Day we decorate, listen to Christmas carols, bake cookies, light candles, give gifts, and think of the birth of Jesus." I long to do the same thing in anticipation of His horrific death on a cross that took the place of a wretch like me and then His Glorious Resurrection that gives me New Life.

Choosing Headshots...

What. a. hassle! Who wants to stare at their own face for hours as they wade through 260 shots to find the one that "looks like" them...

I think this one captures me the best....what do you think?

Chebeague, Maine

Scott took me to an island off the coast of Maine for a Valentine's Weekend! Before you're too impressed or think we robbed a bank, let me tell you how it came to be. Scott occassionally works for a woman in Lexington, Alix Bartsch, who is a lawyer and runs a Bed & Breakfast and who has many, many rental properties that Scott helps with maintaining. She has been wanting Scott to go to one of her properties in Maine, take a look around, and give her a quote for the work to be done.

We drove two hours to Yarmouth, about 10 miles outside of Portland, to a bus, which took us to a ferry, which took us to the island, where a cab was waiting to take us to the cabin.

The cab driver doesn't work after 5pm. There are 300 residents on the island. One General Store, one library, one elementary school, one restaurant, one hotel, one recreational center and one pond (used for ice skating for free in the winter)

A couple of hours after we arrived and turned on the water and electricity, the electricity went OUT. And just 2o minutes or so before dark. Very fortunately, Scott and I had come across a kerosine heater and some candles earlier, so once we had the heater going in one closed off room, we were able to warm up enough for the freezing winter night...

And we had wonderful ambiance: candles, roses, a rotisserie chicken warmed on the keronsine heater from the grocery story, chocolate truffles and a Big Band station Scott found on his hand crank radio.

Sunday morning, we made breakfast on the propane grill outside.

Just a half a stone's throw away, Alix has an 1825 cabin on the property, which Scott will probably be working on to shore up its foundation. It still has a handpump at the sink and a potbellied wood burning stove!!

Since we didn't have running water, Scott collected melting snow dripping from the roof and pots of fresh crisp snow for our coffee and heated it to boiling on the propane grill and poured it through the unplugged coffee maker...so innovative!

We had a blast and I can't wait to go back when it gets a little warmer! Thanks, Valentine!

My Handy Man

Scott has created a little work space for himself in "our" basement. Part of the common downstairs has a walled off room that can be closed and locked with a padlock, so we claimed it when we moved in almost two years ago. At first, we just stored boxes down there, but over time, Scott has turned it into bachelor space. He built himself shelves and a great work bench, all from scrap wood. He has been wanting to make a toolbox for several months. He found this wood in a junk pile, but it is beautiful. He is all about recycling goods. He has a silly motto that says, "Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do or Do without." He was pretty excited that he didn't pay for anything except the stain!