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.