Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Today is Ash Wednesday when millions begin their Lenten journey. But it should be called “Guilt Wednesday.” Guilt is an admission of wrongdoing. But as Kathryn Schulz points out to us in her wonderful book Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error, those who are doing wrong in the moment are unaware of their transgression. It’s not until later that we realize wrongness. So wrongness can never be known in presence, only in retrospect. Remember when Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”?
In retrospect you learn. No guilt necessary. No reason to hold on to your transgression by marking it on your forehead. Secondly, many will give up pleasurable things for lent. Give up something you like in order to feel better about what you did in the past? Sounds like a celebration to me.
Here are some real pleasures and addictions to give up. We get great pleasure out of gossiping. Give that up instead of chocolate. Give up complaining. Complaining triggers a reward center in the brain. Give up talking bad about yourself. We love to abuse ourselves. Sadistically, we love the reward and attention the pity gets us. We love to blame others. Giving that up would be a huge sacrifice.
And the biggest pleasure of them all – guilt. We love to bask in feeling bad about ourselves, our actions, and our past. We are suckers for guilt, “celebrating” it today. Let’s give up Ash Wednesday. Let’s call it what it is – a pity party, a celebration of guilt disguised as penance, remorse, and sacrifice. Who are we kidding? Those ashes say one thing, “Look at me, I am a great champion of my sin and my wrong is greater than yours.” It’s like a pampering bubble bath for the ego. Mardi Gras is mild compared to the indulgent gluttony of Ash Wednesday.