The Angry Grandmother observes Lent

The six weeks of Lent between Ash Wednesday and Easter, a time of solemnity and reflection for Christians, is “a significant season in the year for Christians – a time of solemnity and self-reflection where they confess their failings and resolve to live a more godly life based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.”

People worship our Creator by practicing their beliefs. I have observed that other major world religions also set aside time in the calendar year to reflect upon their lives and to try to atone for their mistakes and to repair harm they may have caused others. 

“The Jewish High Holidays are the peak spiritual season of the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur serve as bookends to an intense, reflective time known as the 10 Days of Repentance. During this period, we engage in the inner work of change, of returning to our essence and our highest potential as holy human beings, ”according to the Peninsula Jewish Community Center. 

According to goodfaithmedia.org “during Ramadan, Muslims cultivate complete obedience to God, a sensitivity to God’s sustenance and empathy for those who are poor and hungry.”  The Dhammakaya Foundation states. “During the Buddhist Lent, lay followers refrain from bad actions, in particular drinking alcohol, taking drugs or leading an inappropriate life.” 

Humanists and atheists demonstrate they know the difference between right and wrong and know how to say, “I am sorry and I will do better.”

We all make choices about how to observe or not observe a season of Lent. With me it has been a decision to conscientiously give up something that I would miss so that my mind would focus on the sacrifices I believe Jesus made.  One year I gave up cheese, another year it was social media and this year it has been cussing. I have also tried to be kinder to those I disagree with and try to offer grace to all, especially those who are members of the supermajority of the Tennessee Legislature. Ya’ll, it is a real challenge for me. 

During this season of Lent I pray more frequently, even if it is only the repeated short prayer “Lord have mercy,”  or “have mercy on us.” I feel so very sad about the lack of care for our children so I continue to repeat the Bible’s shortest verse,“Jesus wept.” (Luke 11:35)  I am trying to focus on prayers, but we need to change the sheer meanness in our state capital and in the hearts of some of our members of Congress. 

Last year, the legislature’s actions drew worldwide attention. Following the mass shooting at Nashville’s Covenant School,  our representatives failed to pass any major laws for responsible gun ownership despite the pleas of adults and children. I hoped our lawmakers would go home after the legislative session and contemplate on  the majority of Tennesseans who want “gun sense” laws and who are concerned about the ongoing crisis of rural healthcare.

It was not to be and it appears that our legislature returned in 2024 determined to silence those who oppose them. 

At the beginning of the current legislative year, House Speaker Cameron Sexton began requiring tickets for members of the public to sit in the House of Representatives’ visitor gallery.  He and other members of House Republican leadership gave the public — and their Democratic colleagues — very little notice of the new procedure. The majority now controls who gets a ticket and I believe this is an action to silence people who want gun sense laws. To make amends our legislature should at least serve doughnuts to every protester who wants gun safety laws and cannot make their voice heard. (Lord, have mercy.)

Perhaps the legislature should give up their loyalty to guns for Lent and while they stop making it easier to get a gun they could spend time talking to parents who have lost children to gun violence. 

In February, U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles — my representative — was asked about the children being killed in the horrific war in Gaza, he said “I think we should kill them all.” War is hell and children are always killed and it is horrible and senseless. Jesus wept. For Lent, Congressman Ogles should publicly apologize for his statement and participate in a rally for Peace in the Middle East. 

In February, U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett of Knoxville falsely identified a man as the shooter at the celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory, calling him an “illegal alien.”  The man was not the shooter, was not an illegal alien, and has since received death threats as a result of Burchett’s social media posts. For Lent, Burchett should apologize to the person he lied about and should volunteer in a kitchen that feeds our immigrants. (Lord have mercy.) 

Nashville NewsChannel 5 reporter Phil Williams reported a story featuring a recording of a school voucher proponent  implying that to defeat those who do not support vouchers is like “public hangings.” Thank you, Phil Williams,  for being a beacon of shining light in Tennessee. The person who used the word “public hanging,” should attend their local school board meeting and sit on the front row and hold a sign naming the high school from which they graduated. (Have mercy on us.) 

The House GOP  continues to silence Reps. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, and Justin Jones, D-Nashville. For Lent, the leaders of the Republican super majority should attend Pearson’s church in Memphis — Pearson is an excellent preacher — and shake hands with the members of his congregation. These same leaders need to ask Jones to lead a Bible Study on Capitol Hill and require every member of the House Republican Caucus to attend. 

I believe that we are born innocent and we have to be taught how to be a “good neighbor.” Because we are human, no matter what our beliefs, we will sin or make mistakes in spite of our efforts. But we have to keep trying to do better and be a good neighbor and take care of those in need. Lord, hear our prayer.