Ever since Epiphany it has been a time of celebration and rejoicing, of fun and festivity; a time to throw off the shackles of self-discipline and restraint, and throw ourselves instead into the business of enjoying ourselves. Next week, on Shrove Tuesday, will come the culmination of this time, when people around the world will stuff themselves silly in one last jubilant Carnival. After that will come Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of the forty dark days of Lent.
But though Lent is dark and dreary, and a time filled with self-restraint and self-denial, yet we know there will be a Light at the end of the tunnel, if only we can hold on and keep going. For God has promised to comfort us, and restore us; and in the end to bring us out of our prison of pain and fear and death, into a good land; a heavenly land; a land flowing with milk and honey...
And on this theme, and based on Isaiah 51: 3, I have written a song. It's called "The Lord will comfort Zion", and you can find my recording in the column on the right, under "Little Grey Rabbit's Music".
