Fat Tuesday

Ok feisty foodies, shut your ears. I’m going language-ugly for a bit, using vulgar words, banned by you boney butts. Fat Tuesday was this past week. But you already knew that, or called it Mardi Gras. Merriam-Webster says “Mardi Gras is French. Literally “Fat Tuesday.” It is the day when, not only it is OK to eat rich, indulgent, fatty foods, it is virtually required. Some pancake houses offer specials for the day.

Fat Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day, or Carnival is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning the Christian season of Lent. The forty days of Lent is a time of fasting and sacrifice leading up to Easter. Sundays are not counted; they are celebrations of the death and resurrection of Jesus and are automatically considered days of joy. Therefore, Sundays cannot be considered days of fasting.

Mardi Gras developed with the intent of shriving, or purging the pantry of fatty, rich ingredients so fasting folks wouldn’t feel tempted; or need to use them anyway. Another feature of Mardi Gras is the “King Cake” which has a tiny plastic baby inside. Whoever gets the slice or bite with the King in it is expected to buy the next cake, or host the next party.

On Tuesday, I eagerly called in for pick-up; a three-stack order of Pecan-Buttermilk Pancakes, slathered in warm butter. Sides included sausage patties, Hot Maple syrup, and black (real) hot coffee. So there! If you’re gonna feast, bust out of the traces, and enjoy. It will take me weeks to work this off, but so, be it!

This season’s festivities are over. This is a good time to cleanse the soul, to focus on the season of Lent. There is evil in the world, and many folks practice sin as if it were required; most of you, dear readers, are not inclined to be intentionally iniquitous . Yet you and I are flawed human beings. John Wesley did not call it “Original Sin.” I had a professor at Emory who said, “There’s nothing original about sin.” Wesley taught that we fall away from “Original Righteousness,” yet “Sanctifying Grace” redeems us. We do have hope.

Ann, my high school classmate, taught me about sacrificing during Lent. She gave up chewing gum. I knew her, so I know this was a real sacrifice for her; I also learned the meaning of spiritual discipline. Giving up something, or taking on a discipline during Lent is not one of the Ten Commandments. However, as a spiritual discipline, intentional sacrifice can become a means of Grace. Spiritual disciplines can help focus on re-vision, or reframing life habits. Lent is a good time to do so. Think of it as a Spring cleaning of the Soul. The Psalmist said,

“For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart.”—Psalm 51:16-17

Habit for habit sake can be dreary for you and annoying to your family and close friends. However, good habits (practices, disciplines), well managed tend to be a great benefit to the soul. The Apostle Paul held habits of discipline in high esteem. I commend them.