In the Episcopalian tradition, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. As such, and because I am Episcopalian, today is that last day of Lent. So I thought it would be good to review my Lent.

Here is what I initially planned on doing for Lent:

• Starting Lent with a day off from work on Ash Wednesday during which my wife Kim and I would attend an Ash Wednesday service at our church, pictured in the fea
• Praying Daily Devotions both morning and at the close of the day.
• Reading Lent Is Not Rocket Science: An Exploration of God, Creation, and the Cosmos: Meditations for 40 Days of Lent by W. Nicholas Knisely, the 13th and current bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island.
• Denying myself alcohol and soda throughout Lent.
• Ending Lent by going to church that Saturday, Holy Saturday, or Sunday, Easter, depending on my schedule.

And here’s what I actually did:

• Kim and I went church on Ash Wednesday. Photo above is the altar from our home church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Wellsboro.
• I prayed Daily Devotions from The Book of Common Prayer.
• I mostly denied myself alcohol and soda through Lent. We did “imbibe” wine for my wife’s 50th birthday, which was this past Monday.

After a few days of Lent Is Not Rocket Science, I decided that no, it really was not and instead chose a book recommended by Deb from the blog Readerbuzz: Pauses for Lent: 40 Words for 40 Days by Trevor Hudson. I also used A Mindful Year: 365 Ways To Find Connection and the Sacred in Everyday Life by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan. I either would use one or the other, or both, depending on the day and what I felt applied.

As for the last thing “ending Lent by going to church,” I will be doing that but not physically but virtually. But to be honest, I’ve gone to church more in the last couple of weeks than I did previously.

For the last couple of weeks, and yesterday for Good Friday, I have been attending Washington National Cathedral, which has been a balm for my soul. My wife and I also “did” Stations of the Cross at our home church.

Updated Sunday morning: I went to TWO church services, one at our local church and then this one at Washington National Cathedral. Highlights are at 49:26: Sermon by The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church, and then right after his sermon, at 1:06:23, with The Episcopal Church Virtual Choir and Orchestra.

Name one thing you’ve got going for you that is nice.