Fastenzeit (Fasting Time)

Today is Ash Wednesday ... I'm not Catholic or Lutheran or any denomination that observes this event formally, and so this is really not a tradition that is familiar to me although when we lived in the Franconian region of Bavaria while stationed in Germany, this day was a part of the German holiday calendar for the state.   Germans call this day Aschermittwoch (Ash Wednesday), and it is (or was) a school holiday in many, if not all, states of Germany. 

The more I've read about the German practices of Advent and other observations, the more I am convinced that these dates can be a good lesson or time for reflection for any Christian.  Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten season of 40 days of fasting.  The word fast/fasting is derived from the German word Fasten. 

It wouldn't hurt any of us to either give up or add something to our spiritual practices for just 40 days. Isn't it doing something over and over again for 21 days that creates a habit?  Perhaps it is a way to instill something good into our lives anyway!? 

The religious connotation of Lent and fasting seem to focus on giving up something - meat, sweets, alcohol, etc.  We could also add something:  a daily Bible reading or devotion, a random act of kindness or such like for 40 days.  And then maybe even beyond!

Of course, the purpose of Ash Wednesday is to repent and enter into fasting with a clean heart and conscience before God and men.  That's never a bad idea either!  Sack-cloth-and-ashes repentance is definitely a Bible concept, seen especially in the Old Testament. 

In doing a little research about this topic, I came across an interesting article from Christianity Today's website, discussing the merits of observing Lent from a Baptist and Protestant perspective:  Lent-Why Bother?  I will disclaimer that not everything in the article or by Christianity Today reflects this blog author's beliefs, but I think there is much redeeming material here.

So, Ash Wednesday and Lent --- Do you already observe it?  Does your particular church or denomination?  Do you find it might be useful for anyone claiming a relationship with God? 

Lent lasts now until the Saturday before Easter.  It is to be a time of repentance and preparation and self-reflection for 40 dedicated days (not counting Sundays).  The significance of 40 in the Bible seems to be tied to probation or trials, although I don't want to get tied up too much in numerology, but consider this:

Here are some examples of the Bible’s use of the number 40 that stress the theme of testing or judgment:

In the Old Testament, when God destroyed the earth with water, He caused it to rain 40 days and 40 nights (Genesis 7:12). After Moses killed the Egyptian, he fled to Midian, where he spent 40 years in the desert tending flocks (Acts 7:30). Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 24:18). Moses interceded on Israel’s behalf for 40 days and 40 nights (Deuteronomy 9:18, 25). The Law specified a maximum number of lashes a man could receive for a crime, setting the limit at 40 (Deuteronomy 25:3). The Israelite spies took 40 days to spy out Canaan (Numbers 13:25). The Israelites wandered for 40 years (Deuteronomy 8:2-5). Before Samson’s deliverance, Israel served the Philistines for 40 years (Judges 13:1). Goliath taunted Saul’s army for 40 days before David arrived to slay him (1 Samuel 17:16). When Elijah fled from Jezebel, he traveled 40 days and 40 nights to Mt. Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).

The number 40 also appears in the prophecies of Ezekiel (4:6; 29:11-13) and Jonah (3:4).

In the New Testament, Jesus was tempted for 40 days and 40 nights (Matthew 4:2). There were 40 days between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension (Acts 1:3).
(source)

I haven't committed to giving up or adding anything yet today ... but I might.  After all, it is "only" 40 days, and who knows what the long-lasting consequences have the potential to be!