Religion: A Pastor Ponders

Song of the Thornbird

by Pastor William Jenkins

February 11, 2005

Question: Why is there such excessive revelry during Mardi Gras?

Answer: Because Ash Wednesday is coming. Officially, it is now past.

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent when we voluntarily enter into some form of self- denial. So, before that happens, we indulge our cravings in excess.

More people know what Mardi Gras is than know what Ash Wednesday is because we tend not to be into self-denial. Excess is our cup of tea; i.e., Mardi Gras. Oh, we do take a stab at self-denial now and then. Our most popular effort is called “dieting”. During Lent we may venture to give up some favorite indulgence like chocolate or soda or some other thing we like a lot. This makes us feel good about ourselves because we are denying ourselves.

Ash Wednesday also reminds us of our mortality. From the moment we were born there has been, as it were, a whisper in the wind, “You will not get out of this alive”. Our disposition is that we are immortal. History began with us and it will certainly end with us. Delusional? Yes, but it makes the passing days more palatable. It’s really not that difficult to understand why Mardi Gras is more popular than Ash Wednesday. Still, too much Mardi Gras and not enough Ash Wednesday is not healthy.

The excesses of our culture have robbed us of a joy that can only be found through sacrificial self-denial. When we live outside ourselves there is more freedom than when we are wrapped up in ourselves. Ash Wednesday invites us to a surrender that leads to liberty, a denial that results in fulfillment, a dirge that evokes the sweetest music.

There is an old Celtic legend about a bird that sings only once in it’s life. It sings its single song more sweetly than any creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves its nest, this bird searches for a thorn tree and does not rest until it has found one. Having found its thorn tree the bird sings among the tree’s savage branches and impales itself on the longest, sharpest spine. Then, in death, it rises above its own agony to out-carol the lark and the nightingale. The whole world stills in silence to listen and even God in heaven smiles at the sound of the song.
The lesson of the legend is that the best things are bought at the cost of self-denial and great sacrifice. All God’s creatures are created for purposes which are higher and greater than themselves.

Pondering on this subject of self-denial, I remember how Jesus put it: “Whoever would come after Me must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) Therein is a surrender that leads to liberty, a denial that results in fulfillment, a dirge that evokes the sweetest music from life.

League City United Methodist Church is located at 1411 Main Street (FM 518), one block east of Interstate 45. For information, call the church offices at 281-332-1557 or visit the website at

HYPERLINK - http://www.lcumc.org