MARDI GRAS MEMORIES AND INSPIRATION
One of the great things, many will tell you, about life in the great state of Louisiana is Mardi Gras.
I find it to be a most interesting day, for it brings back tons of memories from my childhood (for when we were in Lake Charles, our family was part of a krewe.) While the specific year escapes me, I distinctly recall one year where it was so cold that I was absolutely miserable riding the several miles on the float. Other years, I remember the joy of trying to throw 'the good beads' to dear friends in the crowd (as well as trying to 'strategically place' doubloons at high velocity) in some great time on the float.
As I have grown older, while my excitement about Mardi Gras has waned (I'm not anti-Mardi Gras) my fascination with the whole thing has grown. When I referred to Mardi Gras as 'Ash Wednesday Eve' during worship this Sunday, I said it in jest; as the day went on and as Monday has come and almost gone, I think the idea of Mardi Gras as 'Ash Wednesday Eve' might actually be helpful, for Mardi Gras is, in fact, preparation for the observance of the season of Lent.
I wonder what would happen if we prepared for EVERY season the way we prepare for Lent? (No, I'm not saying to go get hammered while eating too much and engaging in less-than-ideal behavior.)
You will hear in the liturgy Wednesday the following: I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's Holy Word. As for me, yeah, Mardi Gras is fun - but the real joy starts Wednesday when we gather together to begin the dirty work of anticipating and celebrating redemption.
Anyway, I hope and pray that your Mardi Gras observance (whatever it may be) is happy, safe, and festive...and that no matter where your Mardi Gras may take you that we all meet together in the house of the Lord at some point on Wednesday as we are called to observe a 'Holy Lent.'
Grace and Peace, Lamar
I find it to be a most interesting day, for it brings back tons of memories from my childhood (for when we were in Lake Charles, our family was part of a krewe.) While the specific year escapes me, I distinctly recall one year where it was so cold that I was absolutely miserable riding the several miles on the float. Other years, I remember the joy of trying to throw 'the good beads' to dear friends in the crowd (as well as trying to 'strategically place' doubloons at high velocity) in some great time on the float.
As I have grown older, while my excitement about Mardi Gras has waned (I'm not anti-Mardi Gras) my fascination with the whole thing has grown. When I referred to Mardi Gras as 'Ash Wednesday Eve' during worship this Sunday, I said it in jest; as the day went on and as Monday has come and almost gone, I think the idea of Mardi Gras as 'Ash Wednesday Eve' might actually be helpful, for Mardi Gras is, in fact, preparation for the observance of the season of Lent.
I wonder what would happen if we prepared for EVERY season the way we prepare for Lent? (No, I'm not saying to go get hammered while eating too much and engaging in less-than-ideal behavior.)
You will hear in the liturgy Wednesday the following: I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's Holy Word. As for me, yeah, Mardi Gras is fun - but the real joy starts Wednesday when we gather together to begin the dirty work of anticipating and celebrating redemption.
Anyway, I hope and pray that your Mardi Gras observance (whatever it may be) is happy, safe, and festive...and that no matter where your Mardi Gras may take you that we all meet together in the house of the Lord at some point on Wednesday as we are called to observe a 'Holy Lent.'
Grace and Peace, Lamar
I find it to be a most interesting day, for it brings back tons of memories from my childhood (for when we were in Lake Charles, our family was part of a krewe.) While the specific year escapes me, I distinctly recall one year where it was so cold that I was absolutely miserable riding the several miles on the float. Other years, I remember the joy of trying to throw 'the good beads' to dear friends in the crowd (as well as trying to 'strategically place' doubloons at high velocity) in some great time on the float.
As I have grown older, while my excitement about Mardi Gras has waned (I'm not anti-Mardi Gras) my fascination with the whole thing has grown. When I referred to Mardi Gras as 'Ash Wednesday Eve' during worship this Sunday, I said it in jest; as the day went on and as Monday has come and almost gone, I think the idea of Mardi Gras as 'Ash Wednesday Eve' might actually be helpful, for Mardi Gras is, in fact, preparation for the observance of the season of Lent.
I wonder what would happen if we prepared for EVERY season the way we prepare for Lent? (No, I'm not saying to go get hammered while eating too much and engaging in less-than-ideal behavior.)
You will hear in the liturgy Wednesday the following: I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's Holy Word. As for me, yeah, Mardi Gras is fun - but the real joy starts Wednesday when we gather together to begin the dirty work of anticipating and celebrating redemption.
Anyway, I hope and pray that your Mardi Gras observance (whatever it may be) is happy, safe, and festive...and that no matter where your Mardi Gras may take you that we all meet together in the house of the Lord at some point on Wednesday as we are called to observe a 'Holy Lent.'
Grace and Peace, Lamar
I find it to be a most interesting day, for it brings back tons of memories from my childhood (for when we were in Lake Charles, our family was part of a krewe.) While the specific year escapes me, I distinctly recall one year where it was so cold that I was absolutely miserable riding the several miles on the float. Other years, I remember the joy of trying to throw 'the good beads' to dear friends in the crowd (as well as trying to 'strategically place' doubloons at high velocity) in some great time on the float.
As I have grown older, while my excitement about Mardi Gras has waned (I'm not anti-Mardi Gras) my fascination with the whole thing has grown. When I referred to Mardi Gras as 'Ash Wednesday Eve' during worship this Sunday, I said it in jest; as the day went on and as Monday has come and almost gone, I think the idea of Mardi Gras as 'Ash Wednesday Eve' might actually be helpful, for Mardi Gras is, in fact, preparation for the observance of the season of Lent.
I wonder what would happen if we prepared for EVERY season the way we prepare for Lent? (No, I'm not saying to go get hammered while eating too much and engaging in less-than-ideal behavior.)
You will hear in the liturgy Wednesday the following: I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's Holy Word. As for me, yeah, Mardi Gras is fun - but the real joy starts Wednesday when we gather together to begin the dirty work of anticipating and celebrating redemption.
Anyway, I hope and pray that your Mardi Gras observance (whatever it may be) is happy, safe, and festive...and that no matter where your Mardi Gras may take you that we all meet together in the house of the Lord at some point on Wednesday as we are called to observe a 'Holy Lent.'
Grace and Peace, Lamar
I find it to be a most interesting day, for it brings back tons of memories from my childhood (for when we were in Lake Charles, our family was part of a krewe.) While the specific year escapes me, I distinctly recall one year where it was so cold that I was absolutely miserable riding the several miles on the float. Other years, I remember the joy of trying to throw 'the good beads' to dear friends in the crowd (as well as trying to 'strategically place' doubloons at high velocity) in some great time on the float.
As I have grown older, while my excitement about Mardi Gras has waned (I'm not anti-Mardi Gras) my fascination with the whole thing has grown. When I referred to Mardi Gras as 'Ash Wednesday Eve' during worship this Sunday, I said it in jest; as the day went on and as Monday has come and almost gone, I think the idea of Mardi Gras as 'Ash Wednesday Eve' might actually be helpful, for Mardi Gras is, in fact, preparation for the observance of the season of Lent.
I wonder what would happen if we prepared for EVERY season the way we prepare for Lent? (No, I'm not saying to go get hammered while eating too much and engaging in less-than-ideal behavior.)
You will hear in the liturgy Wednesday the following: I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's Holy Word. As for me, yeah, Mardi Gras is fun - but the real joy starts Wednesday when we gather together to begin the dirty work of anticipating and celebrating redemption.
Anyway, I hope and pray that your Mardi Gras observance (whatever it may be) is happy, safe, and festive...and that no matter where your Mardi Gras may take you that we all meet together in the house of the Lord at some point on Wednesday as we are called to observe a 'Holy Lent.'
Grace and Peace, Lamar
I find it to be a most interesting day, for it brings back tons of memories from my childhood (for when we were in Lake Charles, our family was part of a krewe.) While the specific year escapes me, I distinctly recall one year where it was so cold that I was absolutely miserable riding the several miles on the float. Other years, I remember the joy of trying to throw 'the good beads' to dear friends in the crowd (as well as trying to 'strategically place' doubloons at high velocity) in some great time on the float.
As I have grown older, while my excitement about Mardi Gras has waned (I'm not anti-Mardi Gras) my fascination with the whole thing has grown. When I referred to Mardi Gras as 'Ash Wednesday Eve' during worship this Sunday, I said it in jest; as the day went on and as Monday has come and almost gone, I think the idea of Mardi Gras as 'Ash Wednesday Eve' might actually be helpful, for Mardi Gras is, in fact, preparation for the observance of the season of Lent.
I wonder what would happen if we prepared for EVERY season the way we prepare for Lent? (No, I'm not saying to go get hammered while eating too much and engaging in less-than-ideal behavior.)
You will hear in the liturgy Wednesday the following: I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's Holy Word. As for me, yeah, Mardi Gras is fun - but the real joy starts Wednesday when we gather together to begin the dirty work of anticipating and celebrating redemption.
Anyway, I hope and pray that your Mardi Gras observance (whatever it may be) is happy, safe, and festive...and that no matter where your Mardi Gras may take you that we all meet together in the house of the Lord at some point on Wednesday as we are called to observe a 'Holy Lent.'
Grace and Peace, Lamar
I find it to be a most interesting day, for it brings back tons of memories from my childhood (for when we were in Lake Charles, our family was part of a krewe.) While the specific year escapes me, I distinctly recall one year where it was so cold that I was absolutely miserable riding the several miles on the float. Other years, I remember the joy of trying to throw 'the good beads' to dear friends in the crowd (as well as trying to 'strategically place' doubloons at high velocity) in some great time on the float.
As I have grown older, while my excitement about Mardi Gras has waned (I'm not anti-Mardi Gras) my fascination with the whole thing has grown. When I referred to Mardi Gras as 'Ash Wednesday Eve' during worship this Sunday, I said it in jest; as the day went on and as Monday has come and almost gone, I think the idea of Mardi Gras as 'Ash Wednesday Eve' might actually be helpful, for Mardi Gras is, in fact, preparation for the observance of the season of Lent.
I wonder what would happen if we prepared for EVERY season the way we prepare for Lent? (No, I'm not saying to go get hammered while eating too much and engaging in less-than-ideal behavior.)
You will hear in the liturgy Wednesday the following: I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's Holy Word. As for me, yeah, Mardi Gras is fun - but the real joy starts Wednesday when we gather together to begin the dirty work of anticipating and celebrating redemption.
Anyway, I hope and pray that your Mardi Gras observance (whatever it may be) is happy, safe, and festive...and that no matter where your Mardi Gras may take you that we all meet together in the house of the Lord at some point on Wednesday as we are called to observe a 'Holy Lent.'
Grace and Peace, Lamar