Southern Baptist since nine months before I was born. That's me.
But my childhood best friend was born to a Catholic mama and a Protestant daddy, and Saturday night sleepovers at her house meant Sunday morning Mass with her mom. My six year old self was immediately enthralled with the intricacies and the ornate. Years later, my college student self was afforded many opportunities to experience worship outside of the denomination I was raised in, and I discovered the worship services that spoke most powerfully to my inner love of ritual and rites were the ones that were rooted in the solemn and peacefully predictable practice of liturgy.
As an adult, I've come to accept that I have the soul of a liturgist trapped in the body of a demonstratively worshippin' Baptist. (meaning I may be Baptist, but I've been known to raise a hand in worship a time or many . . .)
Next Wednesday begins the season of the observance of Lent - something I've only ever been able to experience from the outside looking in. I can't tell you how many years I've determined to myself that I would observe Lent privately . . . and how many years that, without a community of faith offering support, I've dropped out long before Easter morning dawned.
I think, however, this year could be different. I feel a leading, an urging within, a new hope and desire to embrace the meaning of this prelude to our celebration of the Glorious Resurrection.
I think it's time to revive the much-neglected You Tell Me series because I so want to hear:
Do you personally celebrate Lent? Why or why not? What do I need to know about Lent before I make a public commitment to it this year? What was the most meaningful season of Lent you've experienced? If you are not part of the Christian faith, do you observe a similar period of sacrifice and reflection?
essentially
What does Lent mean to you?
(And I most certainly did NOT forget! The winner of the Changing Your World One Diaper at a Time book is Crystal. Book is on its way!)
(photo courtesy of goldfisken)
