If confession is good for the soul I will confess that this photo in the New York Times caught my eye and it did linger! These shapely women are preparing for the Carnival celebration which began Friday in Rio de Janiero and concludes today, Shrove Tuesday. Their toned bodies are no accident, apparently. Because they will be scantily clad as they ride on floats and walk through the crowded streets they spend weeks in preparation. Many go to fitness "boot camps" to work themselves toward physical perfection.
Go figure. The season of Lent is a time for spiritual reflection and fitness, our own form of boot camp to prepare us for the great festival of Easter. Because, traditionally, people would fast during Lent the days leading up to Ash Wednesday were a time to get rid of rich foods and maybe have a little party to do so. Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday, the day to do the final clean-out and cook up a pancake or two with the grease.
In true human fashion we now largely ignore the religious significance of Lent and play up the party before it begins.
Tomorrow I'll throw out a few ideas about what our version of the fast might be for Lent 2008. We never achieve spiritual perfection but we can become a little more "buff."
Go figure. The season of Lent is a time for spiritual reflection and fitness, our own form of boot camp to prepare us for the great festival of Easter. Because, traditionally, people would fast during Lent the days leading up to Ash Wednesday were a time to get rid of rich foods and maybe have a little party to do so. Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday, the day to do the final clean-out and cook up a pancake or two with the grease.
In true human fashion we now largely ignore the religious significance of Lent and play up the party before it begins.
Tomorrow I'll throw out a few ideas about what our version of the fast might be for Lent 2008. We never achieve spiritual perfection but we can become a little more "buff."
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