“Why is Lent so Depressing?”  she asked Cranky Reverend

The 50 something grandmother sat across from cranky reverend’s (CR) desk one day as people were still leaving the sanctuary.  “Why is Lent so depressing?” she asked with the seriousness of a funeral director.  She was still clutching the bulletin in her hands and looking as if she would gladly substitute CR’s neck if she had the chance.  “Why do people ask me these kinds of questions” his crankiness pondered as he tried his best to look serious.  “What is Lent supposed to be, an episode from “Good Times”?, he laughed silently to himself.

Gathering all of his cranky powers together CR slowly explained, “Lent is supposed to be a time of reflection, especially a time to reflect upon our sinfullness”.  She looked at me and frowned.  “But Crankeverend, you said before that Lent and Advent were supposed to mimic one another, and Advent is not depressing.  So, why is Lent so depressing?”  Well, I guess I am happy that someone in the congregation is listening to my sermons, and thinking about why we do the things that we do.  So often what we do in the church is just a repeat of what has been done in the past, and sooner or later our actions, even liturgical ones, become just another thing that we check off our liturgical list.  Advent – check!  Christmas Eve – check!  Epiphany – check!  I felt my crankiness rising as I began to formulate how I might be able to escape this “Pastor can I have just a moment of your time?” — a moment that will surely turn into a forty-five minute explanation.  Don’t you realize I have just completed two services and made a whole host of life changing decisions like “No we do not light the Christ candle this Sunday.”  and “Yes I realize that the hymn number is wrong for the sending hymn — and I will be sure to let the Office Administrator know how upset you are.”

“If you think about it” CR continued, “Advent is about preparing for the coming of the Christ child, and the return of Christ.  In both cases we are living in expectant times, and like a mother expecting a child, we have hope in the new life that is to come.  But in Lent, we are preparing for the death of Christ on good Friday.  Yes Easter is just on the heels of Good Friday, but we cannot be too quick to live into the resurrection before we realize how we kill Christ every day through our sinfulness.  I can’t see singing “Joy to the World” or “Alleluia, Christ is Risen” in Lent until we experience “Were You There When They Crucified Our Lord.”  Sitting back into my chair, I felt a bit of smug-resolution coming over me — nailed that one.

“Well Crankastor, I just hope you can find some way to make Lent a little more uplifting.”  With that she crumpled up her bulletin and tossed it into my trashcan on her way out of my office.

I looked at the “One-Eyed Minion” doll on my shelf and thought – “And a Happy Lent to Everyone” — “G-d Bless Us One and All”.

Crankeverend…..Out.