In three days it will be Ash Wednesday... The start of Lent. For those who are not followers of the liturgical calendar... It is the 40 days before Easter, but omitting the Sundays. A time to prepare ourselves for the remembrance of the suffering and death of Jesus.
Many forgo sweets, alcohol, or other luxuries during this time. Many in the early church fasted for the 6 days... Ate each Sunday... And continued fasting on the following Monday.
Almost like Ramadan... Fasting for long periods of time.
Because of the long fasts, Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday became a blow-out party. And believe it or not the blow-out party is the topic of this blog.
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| 2014 Mardi Gras - Nica style - Mike, Joseph, Coury, Daniel |
I love celebrating. As I age, I sometimes... no often times... get tired of doing all the preparations for parties, but in my better times I know that life must be celebrated.
I love Mardi Gras... The masks, the beads, the silliness, the joy. We were in New Orleans once for Mardi Gras and it was a sight to behold. Parades, costumes, and joy everywhere. At midnight beginning Ash Wednesday everything stopped. Restaurants and bars closed their doors... Lights went out... People went home... And quiet settled in the district.
During the pandemic it feels like every day is midnight before Ash Wednesday.
But all of us must remember that during Lent, Sundays are excluded... Why? Because Sunday is the day of celebrating the resurrection... Celebrating life.
In most worship services one would never know that people have joined to celebrate the resurrection...life. One can feel the joy in many African American churches with gospel music reaching the heavens.
Can you imagine every Sunday being a celebration of life in all its glory? If I could, worship would have singing, dancing, laughing, and balloons, confetti, and maybe some beads. If I could there would be hugging, holding hands, and more laughing.
Life is precious. Celebrate it this Tuesday... This Mardi Gras... And on all Sundays...and every day.
But safely until the vaccines are in our arms... Then watch out folks... Hugs are coming in!
- Kathleen
