Sacrament or Tradition

Tomorrow begins the season of Lent; and this Lent Eve day is often referred to as "Fat Tuesday."

One is a sacrament; the other a tradition.

Surprised?  On a practical sense, the day preceding the forty-day period of Lenten practices in austerity, alms, etc. would rid homes of the things those observing Lent would otherwise throw out or waste.  Now, it has become something akin of celebrating sin and lewdness, drunken debauchery, gluttonous indulgence, public nudity, and all manner of dismissal of our follow-ship of Christ.  Fat Tuesday is not a sacrament; it's a tradition.

This isn't about bashing Mardi Gras or the like.  It's about how we make something feel sacred and appropriate, justifying it, and eventually, it becomes accepted practice.  Meantime, we profane that which is meant to be pure.  We do this with food, drink, relationships, our spending...

Jotting with Johnna
Without condemnation, guilt, or shame - which are unhelpful tools of the accuser - explore how this has played out in your life.  Have you put a relationship on a "pedestal," and thus the others in that relationship onto a tight-rope?  Are your expectations, urges, and impulses overruling your ability to make wise decisions with your finances?  What behaviors indicate that you have made something commonplace out to be communion or vice-versa (pun absolutely intended)?  Do you think that a shift in focus might help you celebrate, commemorate, and elevate the profound gift of our Savior and the subsequent relationship we get to have with Him?

Remember:  you are so very worthy to enjoy all God has given, and to mindfully do so in a way that reverences Him as Source and as Sovereign.

Stay tuned.  Stay focused.  Stay well.