The Year in Gear

It's February! Yikes! Is anyone else out there thinking the time is zooming by??? I barely have mastered getting 2006 on my cheques (anyone else having this trouble?).

It took me a few moments to wrap my consciousness around it, but a month from today - March 1 - it will be Ash Wednesday. Plenty of time to ponder how to flex the spiritual muscles of discipline before those 40 days commence.

In the tradition of the Episcopal Church in the USA (oh, and some ELCA churches) also upcoming - much to my guilty pleasure - is Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday/Shrove Tuesday. Pancakes, bacon, sausages.... oh, my achin' arteries! Although I have heard several tales about its origin, perhaps you'd like to read up about it. Thanks again to Ms. Debbie of Hodgepodge, take a gander at your leisure at the following for further info:

http://buffalolore.buffalonet.org/shrove/shrove.htm;
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/shrove.html ; http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13763a.html ;
http://www.southbear.com/Lectionary/Calendar_Archives/Shrove_Tuesday.html

Hope these sites are interesting for you. Let us bless the Lord! DJ