On Tuesday, Feb. 21, John Brown University’s Student Ministry Leadership Team hosted Taste and See: Pancakes and Preparation. The event provided an opportunity for students to hear from faculty and other students on how to prepare for and observe Lent. One of the speakers, senior Kevin Hernandez said, “I prepare for Lent thinking about myself and my weaknesses because those are the specific areas in which I know that I need to improve.” Hernandez, from the Catholic denomination, also said that lent is not about becoming a better person, but about growing closer to God.
On Wednesday Feb. 22, John Brown University observed the start of the Lent with the annual Ash Wednesday service. The service was a time for students and faculty to come together to repent from their sins and declare fresh devotion to God in preparation for the Lenten season. The entire season of Lent, especially Ash Wednesday, serves as a reminder of Christ’s death and humanity’s mortality. As observers placed ashes on their foreheads, they were reminded of mortality with the phrase: “You are dust and to dust you will return.”
It is often common for Protestant believers to be completely unaware of Lent or its significance. Freshman Callie Freeman, from a Presbyterian background said, “Lent wasn’t even talked about. I would hear sometimes individuals talk about giving up things for Lent, but it never seemed very religious to me.” Another freshman, Caleb Takenaka who comes from a nondenominational background said that he had “no clue” what Lent was growing up and that his family and church did “absolutely nothing” in observation.
Dr. Maxie Burch, a professor of Biblical Studies, Bible and Ministry at the University said “Lent is a time we practice spiritual disciplines that make us curious and open to what God is saying and doing. It is a time to reorient, refocus, recalibrate our lives.” He also said that Lent is a practice that developed in the fourthcentury by Christians who were attempting to celebrate the life of Christ more intentionally. The 40 days, which represent Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the wilderness, are a precursor to Easter. While the Lenten season initially was designed for new believers joining the church to prepare for Baptism and Communion, it is used by believers today for personal and corporate preparation of the Easter season.
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