Seeing Beyond the Pancakes

Yesterday was Pancake Day; we enjoyed our pancakes. Others celebrated Mardi Gras – Fat Tuesday – with more elaborate festivities.

It was also Shrove Tuesday. ‘Shrove’ comes from the Old English word ‘shrive,’ which means to confess our sins to God and receive His absolution or forgiveness. Traditionally this happened in preparation for the period of Lent.

I’m better at eating pancakes that I am confessing my sins. I need to see beyond the feasting and enjoyment of pancakes, to the forgiveness of Shrove Tuesday and the fasting of Lent.

Yesterday’s traditions included pancake races…

Legend has it that in Olney, Buckinghamshire, in 1445, a woman was so busy making pancakes that she lost track of time. Hearing the church bells ringing for the Shrove Tuesday service she rushed to attend, still clutching her frying pan containing her pancake!

We can use our imaginations and enjoy the story – losing sight of her desperation to get to church! She saw beyond her pancake cooking to her need for God’s forgiveness.

Yesterday we were delighted to learn of Andrea and Laurence’s engagement. There was a special meal, the ring, the proposal… We join with many other friends and relations in sending our congratulations and best wishes for the future.

Laurence will not have proposed, Andrea will not have said, ‘Yes’, if they had not thought it through very carefully, seeing beyond the engagement ring and wonderful evening, to a life of love together and the many implications for their futures, their families…

Our new stair-carpet has finally been fitted. It’s very nice to look at it – but there’s no point in just admiring it; it’s there to serve a purpose. If we don’t use it to go up and down the stairs it’s a waste of money!

We need to see beyond…

…the stair carpet to see it’s purpose,

…the pancakes to see confession,

…the pancake race to see enthusiasm for receiving forgiveness,

…the engagement ring to see a lifetime of committed love.