Some of y’all probably know that I occasionally write for a little site called Vintage73. It’s a blog that some friends and I started a couple of years ago to provide news and opinion on various happenings in our denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America. (Because there aren’t already enough PCA blogs, right?)

Anyway, the above link is to an interview our own Sam DeSocio did with Sam Wheatley, pastor of New Song Presbyterian in Salt Lake City. Pastor Wheatley recently published a paper on why he believes the office of Deacon in the PCA should be opened to women instead of just men. This interview is worth the read.

This is probably the most “unruly” of my bows — the Cordial Churchman’s “Corduroy.” The fabric’s floppy-ness makes it a little more difficult than on other bow ties to keep straight — which is okay. A little crookedness is necessary, lest it look pre-tied.

With that, I’ve observed the season of Lent consistently since then. They were fruitful observances – times of purposeful self-denial, self-examination, prayer, study, and looking with renewed intent upon Jesus and his work on the Cross.

But I’m not observing this year.What’s Different This Time?

Our church just got finished studying the book of Ecclesiastes together. What a refreshing, wise, brutally honest book; you don’t exactly expect the Bible to tell you that your life is “vapor” – something you can’t control, can’t predict, can’t nail it down. You don’t expect the Bible to talk about gritty, grimy stuff that we all know: “death comes to all”, “no matter how hard you work, you can’t take anything with you”, “whatever you gain in this life will go to someone else after you’re gone.” Bummers, all of ‘em.

Then Solomon said this…

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.

Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vaporous life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

(Ecclesiastes 9:7-10)

In the midst of these declarations of the vaporous nature of life, “The Preacher” admonishes his readers to enjoy life. To eat good food and to drink good wine… not to refrain from it! To put oil on one’s head… not ashes! And that was the end of any thought of observing Lent for me this year.

See, I know myself. I know that I‘m already given to the kind of introspection and self-abasement commonly associated with Lent observation – the kind that can easily tip over into despair and self-loathing. But here, we see Scripture commending and commanding joy for God’s people. We see that the things that we enjoy, when enjoyed properly, are good gifts that God wants us to enjoy. Yeah, they’re vapor. So? They’re good vapor!

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that the observation of Lent is necessarily wrong, sinful, unwise, or anything like that. Not only that, but I don’t even think that Scripture and the Westminster Standards necessarily prohibit the observation of such a season. (I know that a number of my fellow PCA folks will disagree, and we can talk about that another time.) But, for me – this year, at least – it’s time to step back and “observe” joy in the Lord.

So… I’m not doing Lent this year. Yes, I’m still a sinner. I’m a worm. I’m the worst guy I know. (Really, I am.) But I’ve got a good Savior who has removed (and is removing) all that crap.  Ecclesiastes tells us that there’s a time to weep and a time to laugh. I’ve got the weeping part down. Laughter’s time has come.