Seeker

What matters most to you? When faced with terminal illness, the fatalities of a disaster, or attend a funeral, we're reminded of human frailty, the brevity of life. Sometimes that creates a determination to make the most of life or make things better for others. Today Lent begins, a time to re-focus on what matters most, a time for honest appraisal of who we are and what God calls us to be. If you take part today in an Ash Wednesday service which includes the imposition of ashes, you will be invited to receive a stark reminder of who you are with words like these, "remember that you are dust,   and to dust you shall return." The sign drawn with ash on the forehead is more than a sign of penitence and a symbol of mortality, it's a sign of hope. The ash (mixed with oil) is drawn in the shape of a cross, the sign of Christ, a badge of discipleship and reminder of his death for the sins of the whole world. Words like these are also said over each person receivin...

Today is usually known as 'Pancake Day' in the UK. So why the lemons? Well, a British pancake, cooked, tossed or raced on Shrove Tuesday isn't complete unless served with fresh lemon juice and sugar. Today is the last day before Lent begins. In some places, like France, today is known as 'Mardi Gras' (Fat Tuesday) - a day to use up any rich foods still in the larder before a more austere diet or fast in Lent. Several places in England hold a pancake race. The most famous and probably the original is at Olney in Buckinghamshire where a race has been run (off and on) since 1445. Read about it  here . Any adult woman who has lived in Olney at least 3 months is eligible to take part, providing they provide a pancake in a frying pan to toss as they go and wear the required gear. I'll be cooking pancakes this evening, but I won't be running with them, just sharing them. In 'Rosenmontag' I said I was weighing up possibilities about how to observe Len...

photo from commons.wikimedia.org 'Autokuh' by Rolf Hahn This last Monday before Lent is a day for dressing up, having fun and letting your hair down. We've forgotten that in the UK, where it's a normal working day.  Today is 'Rosenmontag' in German speaking countries. It could mean Rose Monday, but some people think the name is a corruption of 'Rasenmontag', from 'rasen' - to race or dash along. Another way to put it is - this is Mad Monday. In Germany, especially the Rhineland, today is the highlight of the pre-Lent 'Karneval' season (which started in November). Many cities have big carnival parades today, often making fun of public figures. This float (from 2006) in Cologne has a motor-cow with a politician milking the motorist. . Although most of the traditions for this Monday have died out in the UK it does have a variety of old names in English: Shrove Monday, Collop Monday, Merry Monday, Nickanan Night , Peasen or Hall Mo...