An interesting meditation for the day known as Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day, or Fat Tuesday is to note how it relates to our often up and down Christian lives. Though its roots are religious, when Mardi Gras is mentioned the majority of Americans are going to flash to the drunken bacchanal occurring this week in New Orleans and to a lesser degree in other cities around the country. The revelry will end abruptly at midnight tonight and the celebrants will shuffle back to their lives with a bit a hangover and perhaps, a twinge of remorse. The clock striking midnight signals the beginning of Lent, traditionally a period of penance and sacrifice.
Do our personal dealings with God reflect this night and day behavior? Do we find ourselves involved in behaviors that the Spirit reminds us are wrong that culminate in deal making with the Judge? We plead that after this one last time we are going to stop abruptly and enter a period of repentance which will lead to our not repeating the behavior? Maturity comes when these spikes, the need to engage in one more personal Carnivale, begin to level out. The transformation takes root when our desire for debauchery is overcome by our hope for holiness.
Just something to think about.
LOVE | ACCEPT | FORGIVE 