Hearts and Ashes

When I realized Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day this year, my first thought was “Drat. No molten lava cakes.” Indulging in this special treat has been a Valentine’s tradition my husband and I have kept since discovering the recipe on a favorite tv cooking show.

I was raised in a tradition in which keeping a holy lent meant giving up desserts, candy, and the like for Lent. So, giving up lava cakes seemed the right thing to do. Especially on Ash Wednesday, a solemn day that is supposed to be spent in repentance, fasting, and reflecting on our mortality.

          A recent death in our family made me especially aware of the later theme. As the priest smeared ashes on my forehead, the words, “Remember that you are but dust, and to dust you shall return” hit me more powerfully than usual. Life is short and each day is precious. The reality is we don’t know how much time we will have here on this earth. It seems important, then, to tell those closest to us how much we love them every day. Perhaps that’s as much part of how we can keep a holy lent as fasting and repentance.

For early Christians, Lent was a time during which converts to the faith were prepared for Baptism, which took place on Easter. Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of a process of preparation which involved not only the converts, but all members of the local Christian community. Everyone walked together, experienced Christians along with new converts, supporting and encouraging one another.

The closest experience I’ve had of that is when I’ve been part of Lenten Soup Suppers. This tradition, still practiced in many churches, gives a special opportunity for communities to gather one evening a week during Lent. Participants share a simple meal, pray together, and engage in some kind of learning. These experiences change the focus from individuals “giving up something for Lent” to a community whose participants are on a journey together. Yes, this journey goes through Good Friday and the cross. It involves repentance, forgiving and being forgiven. It’s a journey, however, that ultimately leads to Easter and the joy of realizing we’ve been transformed by God’s love.

          Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day are both about love. It is God’s love that calls us to repentance. It is God’s love that gives us the strength and courage to forgive and be forgiven. It is God’s love that transforms us not only as individuals, but as community – whether it be a community of two or two hundred. That’s the amazing thing about God’s love. And even on Ash Wednesday, that is something to celebrate!

          `So Ken and I decided to do just that. To be sure, we both observed the solemnities of Ash Wednesday. We both have made a commitment to keep a holy Lent. But as evening came, we took some time to honor our love for each other. I cooked a special dinner for two. We exchanged silly cards and some laughs. And yes, we thoroughly enjoyed indulging in our traditional molten lava cakes.