Kelli, what can you tell us about Lent?

I'll preface this musing with the disclaimer that today's post is very spiritual in nature. If you're not interested in my thoughts on faith, God and Lent, I won't be at all offended if you don't read on.
Much love,
Kelli

As many of you know, Fat Tuesday was this past Tuesday, and that is always followed by 40 days of Fish Fillet commercials and people saying things like "I can't eat that because I gave up ____ for Lent." To kick off this stretch of time that is described variously as "the desert," that time before Easter, or just "that Catholic thing," millions around the globe attend an Ash Wednesday service, and I was among them. Because I attend a Catholic school, and evidently, Lent is a "Catholic thing" (I'll expand on this below,) there was an Ash Wednesday service right in the lobby of our school. Without going into depth about the significance of the imposition of ashes (though, if you're curious, feel free to contact me for a summary,) every one gets a reminder that we are dust, and to dust we shall return. That reminder is a black smudge of ashes in the form of a cross on your forehead.
That black cross is a bit like a bulls eye for people who skipped the service, and who probably skip Lent, to subject you to an inquisition. Only moments after leaving the service, I was heating up my lunch in our student lounge when a classmate asked me:
"Kelli, what can you tell us about Lent?"
I responded "What do you want to know?"
classmate: "Does it have anything to do with Moses?"
me: "No. It does not. There is a symbolic meaning in the 40 days because 40 appears at various times in the Bible, including the 40 years that Moses and the Israelites wandered in the desert. But, no, Lent is not related to Moses."
classmate: "Then why do they show 'The Ten Commandments' at Easter?"
me: "Because 'The Passion of the Christ' is too controversial and gory."

What I can tell you about Lent is that it isn't a "Catholic thing." I've observed Lent my entire Lutheran life. I don't know who doesn't observe Lent, but I do.
I can tell you that I eat whatever I want to during Lent. I could give something up, but I don't. Instead, I'm taking up a devotion. This year I'm praying for 30 minutes a day. Now that is tough for me.
I also know that Lent gets a bad rap for being depressing. I kind of like Lent. I like going to church on Wednesdays and eating Lenten soup suppers. It reminds me of my childhood, where Wednesday nights were still church nights. And in the bleak, dark time of winter, I enjoy the opportunity to reflect on my blessings, my mortality, and God's hopes for me in this life. Lent is not a 40-day shame-on-you-for-sinning; it is a 40-day reminder that we sin, God loves us anyway, so much, in fact, that we are saved by God's grace through our faith, and not by our good works.
I hope that this season, whatever it is for you, brings you peace and time to reflect on what matters to you.
With love,
Kelli