Day 108

Happy Ash Wednesday! I'm not sure if that's an appropriate greeting because I've never understood Ash Wednesday, or Lent. This ancient religion of a dying and rising god is beyond my experience. I remember first encountering it 30 years ago - my first year as a Methodist minister - I was asked to lead an Ash Wednesday service. I had no idea what to do. I chose, for one of the hymns, "Thine be the glory", and I was told that we couldn't sing that because Jesus wasn't risen yet! This was an evangelical circuit, but they had incorporated this ancient religion into their practice. I tried the Bible on them: Hebrews 10: 10, "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

That makes sense to me - once for all!

And Lent! I have never met anyone who does it right. According to the Church Calendar, Sundays are Feast Days, so there is no fasting on a Sunday, even during Lent. That's why in the 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday there are 40 days of Lent. Six of the days are Sundays, so if you have given up chocolate for Lent you can eat as much as you like on the Sundays.

But again, Jesus said: "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10: 10).

I have decided to keep this blog going even though I will soon officially be back. The last 2 nights have been very disturbed with the pain. I am receiving messages from people saying how pleased they are that I am feeling better. I'm not; if anything I am feeling worse than last November, because the extended lack of proper sleep is exhausting. And so I will continue to write about how I get on.

Thinking of Lent, I am still going to Tesco once a week - I go just after it opens at 7am because it's quieter. I walk up and down the aisles and nothing appeals to me. I have very little appetite. It would be helpful if I had the significant weight loss that the doctors keep asking about, but I don't. At least I would look sick.

I think my fuzzy brain is going to cause some issues. I just hope I can remember everyone's names.

But I'll play it by ear and see how I get on.

Happy Lent!