Waxing Poetically: Addressing Culture with a Twist of Poetry

For several Christian denominations and Roman Catholics especially, this past Wednesday marked the start of the season of Lent. Lent is traditionally a time of fasting, prayer and repentance of all sins, sorrows and misdeeds in the previous year or simply a time for the individual to begin a kind of self renewal usualyl to mark a brand new start with their creator and within themselves prior to Easter Sunday to commemorate the resurrection of Christ. The 40 day period is symbolic of Jesus’ 40 days and nights spent fasting and praying in the desert after being baptized in the Jordan River by his cousin John the Baptist in order that he be spiritually ready to begin his ministry. During this time, observers may choose one specific thing with which to go without, or they may use the time to pray more or do whatever they feel they must do to effectively renew their devotion to goodness in the Lord.

In light of this tradition, I thought I might compel you, my loyal readers, to practice a bit of fasting yourselves. As some of you may not or may not be of a particular Lent-observing faith or culture, I’ll simply suggest that you take forty days to practice unselfish kindness to yourself and others. If you believe in God, summit to that believe more heartily and fervently if you’ve been slacking. Or, make a specific promise to give up an activity that may be unnecessary for something that may be more productive such as watching less TV and reading more or volunteering at a community center instead of playing online poker. If you don’t believe in such faith, let your best morality shine through. ask yourlself what you can do to make your world a little kinder. If you’re agnostic, take the time to ask God a few questions. You’ll never know if answers will come if you never ask for them (and this does work in my experience). Of course, these are just my suggestions. The rest is in your hands.

May all of those celebrating have a truly blessed season in Christ, and to those who choose alternatives, may you treat other and be treated with great kindness in the name of that which has created you!

Wax joyfully!

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