The word “Lent” comes from the old English, “lencten," which means “spring." In Middle English is derived the words, lenten, lente, lent; related to the Dutch, lente, the German, Lenz, also rendered “spring.” In Old German are found the related words: lenzin, lengizin, and lenzo, which probably comes from the same root as "long" and referring to "the lengthening days,” as the earth moves from the winter solstice toward the spring equinox.
In the Christian Church, Lent refers to the period of abstinence preparatory to the Feast of Easter. As this fast falls in the early part of the year, it became confused with the season, and gradually the word Lent, which originally meant spring, was confined to this liturgical use. The Latin name for the fast is Quadragesima derived from the Sunday which was the fortieth day before Easter.
It is my practice to spend some part of Lent each year on Tybee Island, Georgia. Locals refer to being on Tybee Island as Tybee Time. Tybee Time reflects how life is lived on Tybee Island: slow, quiet, calm, tranquil, peaceful. My experience is it is all of those things, and it is peace-filled.
It fits in perfectly with this time of Lent where one is to spend time in quiet reflection of one's life; in prayer, reading, meditation and solitude, practicing a measure of interior withdrawal and reflection in which to look with some honesty at the wilderness places in our hears and lives.
Tybee Time on Tybee Island just whispers Lent.
Soon I shall be on Tybee Time.
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