40 Days and 40 Nights
It's really amazing how quickly Ash Wednesday rolls up. It seems like an eyeblink from Christmas. Easter palms are burned and ashes are marked in a cross on my forehead to remind me from whence I came. I don't mind being reminded on this one day, in this one way. There is a strange comfort in the familiarity of it all. Last year I wrote about Lent , and what I planned to do for it. Only one person sort of took me up on my offer for free writing and editing services during the Lenten season, so I thank that person for allowing me to fulfill a bit of my Lenten promise. Happily, that turned into my doing much more volunteer writing, helping me hone my skills. Right now I'm so damn busy writing—freelance and otherwise—that I can't repeat that offer. But, as I said last year, I prefer to do something instead of give up something. Sacrifice works for others; I won't knock it. But I think that Lent should also be a time of healing and nurturing and love. 40