Students observe Lent at Lee through fasting and reflection
Photo by Sydney Pressley.
In anticipation of Easter, many students and professors at Lee observe the season of Lent found in the liturgical calendar. Participants of Lent traditionally begin fasting on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26, through Easter Sunday, April 12.
Sophomore math and Spanish double major Andrew Vick explains how the significance of sacrifice motivated him to observe Lent this year.
“Understanding the importance of Easter within our Christian faith is something very important to me,” Vick said. “The inconvenience it causes … creates that constant reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice and the influence that plays in your life in a more physical and direct way.”
Vick decided to fast sugary drinks in observance of Lent.
“When I got [to Lee], I went through withdrawal from chocolate milk and replaced it with sweet tea from the [dining hall],” said Vick. “So, I realized that would be a really challenging thing for me to give up. It forces me to make a more conscious decision of what I am drinking, and I didn’t even realize that pretty much 90% of the things that I would go and get to drink have a ton of sugar in them … It limited my options.”
Justin Walker, Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries and Old Testament, is also observing Lent this year.
“I probably didn’t observe Lent for the first time until I was in my mid-twenties, so about six years ago,” said Walker. “It was something that was utterly foreign to me growing up, and even in my time at Lee, it was something on the periphery. I didn’t really know what it was.”
After attending a Methodist-affiliated seminary, Walker’s perspective on Lent changed as he observed his peers observing liturgical traditions.
“[Lent] was part of the culture there, so [I] only picked it up vicariously through them,” said Walker. “I was prompted to do it the more and more I became attracted to the Christian year and the rhythm of the liturgical calendar and … Easter was always something that just arrived … But, I found something quite necessary and personally moving in a holistic sense. That 40-day period preparing for Easter Sunday was something I found to be necessary in my own personal walk with God.”
Senior political science major Melissa Haley observes Lent within the Eastern Orthodox tradition.
“I’m doing the full fast which, in the Orthodox church, is no meat, no dairy, no alcohol and no oil, and you’re supposed to pray more, read the scripture more and go to church more often,” said Haley. “[Lent] started on Sunday, March 1 for us. We’re on an older calendar, and it starts on Sundays rather than mid-week for us … It’s usually a really difficult time. It’s helpful as far as growing in my faith in that it is a good time to refocus on repentance and being thankful for what you have. When all you’re eating is bread and vegetables, it makes you appreciate the really simple things you have.”
Haley says her fasting is ultimately worth it due to the last day of Lent — Easter.
“Easter is my favorite time of the year, and having the spiritual struggle leading up to it makes the event all the more impactful,” said Haley. “Especially the week before Easter, we have what’s called Holy Week, and during Holy Week, we have services every single day. Friday night is when we celebrate Christ’s death on the cross, so we stay up all night in shifts reading the Psalms. We have an icon of Christ in His tomb, so we stay up reading the Psalms over the tomb because in church tradition, that’s what they would do for priests, and Christ is the Archpriest. Then the whole Saturday before is a somber reflection on Christ’s sacrifice. So, when it finally hits Easter, it’s really exciting.”
