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The Season of Lent
by Robin Nobles
The season of Lent is the 40 days prior to Easter
Sunday, and it actually begins on Ash Wednesday,
the day following Mardi Gras, or "Fat"
Tuesday.
Lent is a season of repentance, for reflection,
and for taking stock of the direction of our lives.
Lent originated in the earliest days of the Church
as a time to prepare for Easter, when the faithful
rededicated themselves to God, and when converts
were instructed in the faith and prepared for
baptism. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians
imitate Jesus' withdrawal into the wilderness
for 40 days.
Our first link this week is a link to the site
of a very special lady in the Hattiesburg community,
Dean Meador Smith. Dean's second book on Lent
is titled, The
Lenten Tree, which offers daily devotions
during the 40 days of Lent. These devotions center
around 41 symbols, which represent areas of Jesus
Christ and his life.
Order her book from this site, and let the reading
of the book become a yearly ritual in your home.
Read an excellent article titled, "The
Holy Season of Lent," which discusses
the history of Lent and fasting, and the significance
of the 40 days. The Apostles instituted the season
of Lent from the very beginning of the Church
by legislating a universal fast for the followers
of Christ to serve as a spiritual preparation
for Our Lord's Resurrection from the dead.
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, but what does
Ash Wednesday mean? The sprinkling of ashes on
one's body, and dressing in sackcloth, is an outward
show of inner repentance or mourning. Probably
the earliest occurrence is found in the book of
Job. The
Lent and Easter Page offers facts about Lent,
giving up something for Lent, Martin Luther's
Easter Sermons, and more.
The United
Methodist Church posts a listing of Lenten
resources, including a weekly study guide to Lent,
a worship guide, daily devotional pages, and choral
readings of the Easter story.
Finally, for Lenten resources for children and
families, visit Resources:
Lent. Learn a jelly bean prayer, or an egg
decorating story telling activity. Or, learn how
to make a Lenten cross out of modeling clay.
Robin Nobles is a professional
freelance writer and the Director of Training
of the Academy of Web Specialists, where she has
trained several thousand people in her online
courses in search
engine marketing strategies.
http://www.academywebspecialists.com/more_info
She also teaches onsite search engine marketing
workshops with John Alexander (http://www.searchengineworkshops.com),
and she has written three books that can be ordered
through Amazon. Or, visit Robin's personal Web
site at http://www.robinsnest.com.
Copyright 2002 © Robin Nobles.
All rights reserved.
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In
New Orleans, Lousiana (USA) the most famous of Mardi Gras (literally "Fat
Tuesday) celebrations takes place every year - with parties, festivities, merriment
and parades that push the limits of propriety on everything from food and drink
to attire and frivolity. For 
