>> WELCOME O DAY 17 OF LENT.

A VARIETY OF CHRISTIANS DENOMINATIONS OBSERVE THE 40 OR SO DAYS BETWEEN ASH WEDNESDAY AND EASTER SUNDAY AS A TIME OF PRAYER, FASTING AND ALMS GIVING.

AND THE SEASON HAS RESONANCES FAR OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF CHURCHES.

I HAVE A FRIEND WHO WORKED AT A MCDONALD'S AS A TEENAGER IN THE '80s AND RECALLS LINES OUT THE DOOR FOR THREE FOR ONE DOLLAR FILLET-O-FISH SANDWICHES ON FRIDAYS.

IF YOU GREW UP CATHOLIC THE MUSCLE MEMORY IS ESPECIALLY STRONG.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS, COINS IN OUR LITTLE CARDBOARD PERATION RICE BOWL BOXES, PONDERING THE SINS AS A NINE-YEAR-OLD IN THE CONFESSIONAL LINE, AND OF COURSE, CONTINUALLY REDEFINING WHAT PRECISELY IS COVERED UNDER THE SWEETS YOU GAVE UP FOR LENT.

AS AN ADULT, LENT BECOMES MORE COMPLICATED, AS BOTH TEMPTATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS INCREASE.

I HAVE A PARTICULARLY DEVOUT FRIEND WHO DOES SOMETHING I CALL IRONMAN LENT.

COLD SHOWERS, NO ALCOHOL, NO SODA, NO DESSERTS.

IT PROBABLY GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT I LACK THAT SORT OF DISCIPLINE, SO IN ADDITION TO SOME SMALL SACRIFICES I TRY TO INCORPORATE A NEW POSITIVE PRACTICE DURING LENT.

LAST YEAR, FOR INSTANCE, I VISITED A MOSQUE FOR IFTAR, HE EVENING MEAL THAT BREAKS THE DAILY FAST DURING RAMADAN, AND I WAS STRUCK BY THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO OBSERVANCES.

IN ADDITION TO THE CALENDAR, LENT AND RAMADAN FOCUS ON RHYTHMS AND RITUAL, AND HE IDEA THAT QUIET, SINCERE OBSERVANCE IS MORE PLEASING TO THE ALMIGHTY THAN FLASHY PIETY.

SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO REND OUR HEARTS, NOT OUR GARMENTS.

SO, WHETHER YOU'RE MOVING THROUGH LENT, THROUGH RAMADAN, OR JUST THROUGH THE MUCKY, SNIRTY SHOULDER SEASON BETWEEN WINTER AND SPRING, REMEMBER THAT EVERYONE IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING.

SO BE MINDFUL, BE FOREBEARING, AND MOST OF