"Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past,
the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear upon the earth;
the time of the singing birds is come." -Song of Songs 2:10-12
I cannot describe to you how happy I am that it's Easter (aside from the fact that no store in the Boston Metro area has a single Cadbury Cream Egg and that it is supposed to snow later this week...). Normally, I love Lent. A strange sentiment, I know, but I think the introspective, self-examining nature of Lent usually suits me. But this year, Lent has been tough on me. Maybe it was a bit of Seasonal Affective Disorder wreaking havoc with my neurotransmitters or something, but life has been very dark for me these last 40 days (plus Sundays). Unfortunately for me, I feel like I fell into the trap this year, that makes an idol of penance. I got so caught up in my own wretchedness and self-denial, that I ended up throwing a month-long pity-party.
The term 'Lent' is from an Old English word for "lengthen." It indicates the lengthening of daylight hours that coincides with the buildup to Easter and spring in the Northern Hemisphere. As I walked the pilgrim way of Lent, I managed to ignore the building light, both figuratively as we approached the Resurrection and literally as the Vernal Equinox came and went. My own navel-gazing and self-indulgence (which is really contrary to the aim of Lent, isn't it?) prevented me from actually growing during the experience.
The good news is: I finally snapped out of it. It took my washing the feet of 1/3 of the Maundy Thursday congregation, spending the night in church and walking the stations of the cross with about 30 kids, and standing with my new friends as they were baptized and confirmed at the Easter Vigil to remind me what I was supposed to be doing all along.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!!
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