LENT 2022 – SIGNS ALONG THE WAY
I have had a long and running conversation, mostly with myself, about these 40+ days that begin in the liturgical calendar with Ash Wednesday, just after Shrove or Fat Tuesday, and continue until just before Easter. April 17 this year. Historically Lent was a time of fasting and prayer in the organized church, a penitential season of spiritual preparation for one of the highest holy days in the Christian tradition.
In the northern hemisphere, the Easter season was most often associated with Spring. But what about the southern half of the world? What those of us who live up north can agree on is that Lent, from the word lencten, signals the lengthening of days and the longer hours of daylight are as much a harbinger of Spring as the first robin is in some places. Sunrise is just a little earlier each day and sunset a little later.
As I follow the sun and the seasons with more than passing interest, the coming vernal equinox reminds me of the continuing need to keep things in balance and to make the necessary adjustments in order to do so. We are on the road frequently and I check the weather to know what lies ahead, where we are going. Now, take that as a metaphor for life and work and see how you measure the vital signs of your own environment.
One of my favorite weather web sites is weather underground which is really above ground but never mind that. Here it is: https://www.wunderground.com/ Another one, complete with maps, forecasts and real time radar is https://weather.com/ and all you need to do is put in your zip code or name of city to check out where you are or where you’re going. We can now decide where or where not to go based on what lies ahead. See how that might apply given where we are and where we are planning to go in the near future on life, not just in traveling.
However, that said, life is a journey too!
How do you read the signs along the way? Need to make any adjustments? Have a plan? Is it working?
Comments (2)
I did not know that Lent comes from Lencten – my education continues…
As for ‘checking the weather’ before heading out, yes – that makes really good sense, what with all the tools at our disposal… and the forecasters and tools seem to get better over time too – I often check the weather before I walk, so I can be best prepared for what lies ahead… but the weather is also dynamic, so there are surprises too, and that’s where ‘going with the flow’ is useful – I guess flexibility and good planning are not really opposites, are they?
As Bill Bryson says, “No such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.” Perhaps that has an application in life as well as with the weather. Life changes too!