Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent, which is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption. During the Season of Lent, we imitate Christ’s forty days of fasting, and await the triumph of Easter.
We fast, we abstain, and we mortify the flesh, give alms, and think more of charitable works, awakening each morning to the thought of, “How might I make amends for my sins? How can I serve the world today? How can I serve God in a reparative way?” During the Season of Lent, the thought is never on our selves.
The Season on Lent lasts for 40 days and it began on Ash Wednesday, 25 February 2009. This Sunday will be Palm Sunday, followed by Maundy Thursday that comes on April 9th, then Good Friday on April 10th, Holy Saturday on April 11th and finally on 12th April, Easter the greatest holiday in the Christian calendar arrives as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Now since this is the Girl Sustainable blog and not a religious Catholic one, I’m going to detach from the details of those significant dates and just share a personal experience about Lent.
Now I’m certain I’m not the only one here that remembers the Lenten season differently as a child. Back then, Lenten was just the period of time when we each picked a ‘sacrifice’ and gave it up for the season. Quite frankly, looking back at it now, the sacrifice didn’t quite have anything to do with the true meaning behind Lent. I mean I always just chose to give up watching my favourite cartoon or that piece of chocolate after dinner but it seems more an issue of instilling self-discipline than penance.
But now all grown up and more appreciative of Lenten, I actually use this time to lead a greener life. I’ll admit I don’t keep to a full 40 days fast but I do take the opportunity to hold fast to the commitment of being green. For penance, I give up the luxury of convenience…I hand wash all my laundry and dishes. And we have the simplest of organic home cooked meals (this actually works to my advantage as well because simple food = simple preparation).
There isn’t that many days left to Lent, but better late than never right? I don’t know why but the commitment to leading a greener life seems so much stronger during this period of time. After a while it just becomes a part of life and I’ll admit some habits only stuck after practising them for this season.
