bits and bants vol. 7

what's the natural world saying to you about lent?

March roared in like a...February? Yep, still winter, looks exactly like it has for the past four months—snow covered!

Lent in this part of the world feels very seasonally lent-y. As I mentioned, the snow is still here with no remote signs of it leaving. I haven’t seen dirt since October. There are several feet of snow that has sunk, melted, crisped, and solidified covering any ground that hasn’t been plowed by man or machinery. There is nothing close to showing new signs of life. There are no buds, no shoots of green. There is only snow. And bare skeletal trees and branches that miraculously live season over unfavourable season.

It’s hard for those who haven’t lived here to understand how much any kind of growth impacts your perspective. To be without growth or any real signs of natural plant life for almost half a year has a singular type of physiological weariness. I can’t even trim dead perennials or throw mulch on beds because I simply can’t access them under so much snow, and if I could they would be frozen. There is not even that horrid dead, brown grass to try to invigorate.

At first, winter feels like rest. It feels cozy and almost benevolent as it invites you to a slower pace, to hibernation. But after several months of unchanging landscape and temperatures it begins to feel somewhat gulagesque. And thus it is easy to enter into the idea of lent as a desert. It is a time of withdrawal. A time of examining our specific tempations. And for me, examining the pride I believe I have in having the power to control so much of my life.

I need to begrudgingly accept that I have no power over winter or death. I cannot will there to be spring. I cannot will myself to eternal life. Heck, I’ve been fasting for Ember Days this week and have failed so many times it’s laughable. If I did not have this natural seasonal reminder and reality of a frozen barren wilderness I think I would be even worse at ignoring the deeper call to intimacy God extends to us in lent. If I had snowdrops and crocus would I know that it was a time of fasting?

If you are a city dwelling normal person you’re probably wondering “what is she blithering on about?!” But I still believe that modern man in all our climate controlled technological existence is meant to be shaped and molded and effected daily by the seasons and tiny changes of the natural world we live in. I am sure that those living in tropical climates who take notice of what and when things bloom, grow, and proliferate would be able to tell me signs they see in the natural landscape that speak to lent. They may be more subtle, clever, or delicate. I however need bold, clear, and unmistakable outward signs of inward realities—like the earth covered with snow for half the year.

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Bits:

• I feel like all I’ve read this week is heavy stuff. So please feel free to share your pleasant and delightful internet things in the comments!

• This piece from Plough on the situation here in Canada when it comes to euthanasia and assisted suicide is very well done. It really elucidates the reality of the culture here. Unfortunately, this issue is hitting close to home for people we know and at the rate it is ravaging the country I expect we will all be personally affected by this tragedy in the near future. It is such an awful reality in so many ways that I feel really staggered by it, and am really thankful that both my parents and my in laws are practicing, believing Catholics.

• Amy Welborn, heretofore referred to as the GOAT, has some interesting thoughts on the Paprocki essay from this week. I realized as I was reading both the bishop’s article and then subsequent ones, that I am increasingly bothered and annoyed because it feels as if I’m being gaslit by the Catholic hierarchy. And by gaslit, I mean lied to. I am so, so exhausted by being lied to by almost every major institution in the world that I’m very over it. Someone please be honest. If you want the Church to teach something completely new and contrary to everything it’s taught for thousands of years, bloody well say that. Just stop the lying.

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Reading, Watching, What Have You:

• We’re watching the Paramount show The Offer. It’s a true story series based on how the movie The Godfather was created. We rewatched the movie a few months ago so it feels good knowing the scenes and details that are discussed so often. It’s got fascinating intricacies and a really great cast (I will watch everything with Matthew Goode except that awful witch show!). We’re a couple episodes deep but it compelling and we’re plowing through.

• And if you want to appreciate The Godfather even more, then listen to the great podcast episode from Risking Enchantment!

• I am reading too many books right now and I’ve probably got to stick with one or two to maintain some focus!

• And please, if you’re not yet watching Korean rom coms start now. Do you need more enjoyment and delight in your life? Watch them right now!

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Well, in the corners of any time I have not driving people around this weekend I hope to start my ranunculus and anemone corms. I’ve already got about 300 little flower seedlings growing in my basement and haven’t started the majority of starting yet. So you could say I’m a little insane.

Hope you have a stellar week end,

Christy