Give it up

Most of us are familiar with the tradition of Mardi Gras in New Orleans and all of the excesses that come along with it: rich foods, parades, costumes, beads, hurricanes (the ones that come in a glass) and parties that last all night long.  The celebration ends on Tuesday, popularly known as Fat Tuesday for obvious reasons.  But some may not be aware of how Mardi Gras got started.   Over 2000 years ago, Christians began recognizing a 40 day period leading up to Easter called Lent.  This 40 day period represents the 40 days that Jesus fasted prior to be crucified.  During that period, Christians focused on fasting, prayer and service.  Fasting is giving up something, typically food or drink, but Christians today will also sometimes give up vices like social media or television.  The idea is that when you think of the item that you are fasting, instead of partaking, think of Jesus, pray or do something for someone else.  So, as you may have figured out, Mardi Gras became the last chance for people recognizing Lent to partake of some or all of the things that would be abstaining from during Lent.   In case you haven't done the math yet, Lent began yesterday, but it's not too late to join in the fun.  I chose to give up sweets this year as I think about them a lot.  I guess depending on your perspective, that could be good or bad.  But I look forward to what God has in store for me while I attempt to focus less on sweets and more on Him.

Sports Girl

 

Growing up in Douglasville, GA, Elana was focused on one thing and one thing only - softball.   She wasn't just playing pickup games on the weekend, she was competing at a high level on her high school team.   Her softball aspirations didn't end with graduation from high school, as she planned to compete in college as well.  In college, she set a personal goal to compete in the Olympics.  Her single minded focus on softball may have contributed to what turned into deep depression and then an eating disorder.  She felt her life spiraling out of control.  She began reading about world religions trying to find an answer.  One day when she was on the elliptical, she felt an unexplainable wave of emotion come over her which she could only describe as the love of Jesus.  She committed her life to following Him, and her eating disorder was immediately healed.  In three days, Elana Meyers Taylor will compete in the Olympics, not in softball obviously, but in both the monobob and the two-woman bobsled events.  If you are a bobsled fan, none of this is new news to you as this will be her fifth Olympics, and she will be competing for her sixth Olympic medal.  I will be cheering her on.  Click here for Elana's testimony in her own words.

Theo

 

If you are an avid reader, you have probably heard of the recent New York Times best seller, Theo of Golden, by Allen Levi.  Theo is a mysterious character who moves to the town of Golden.  He visits a coffee shop that has 92 portraits on the wall.  He decides that he will purchase the portraits one at a time and try to get them to the subjects in the portraits.  Allen takes the seemingly unrelated stories of the subjects and weaves them into a picture of hope and love.  

Other than a book about caring for his dying brother, Gary, and a children's book, this was Allen's first novel.  Allen grew up in Columbus, GA, was an attorney, then a singer-songwriter, and then a judge.  Allen is 70 years old.  What inspires a man to write a novel at 70?  He wrote it as a challenge to himself with encouragement from friends and family.  With very little time or money spent on marketing, the self-published book had better than average success in 2023, selling about 3000 copies.  But as readers began sharing their love for the book (including Oprah), publishers took notice, and as of the end of 2025, over 300,000 copies have been sold.

I am not an avid reader, but I took notice of Theo of Golden when my mom received a copy a couple of years ago from Allen.  You see, the town of Golden is modeled after Columbus, and Fountain City Coffee in downtown Columbus has portraits hanging on its walls.   I grew up in Columbus, and Allen Levi lived across the street from me.  His younger sister, Laura, was one of my best friends.  Allen wanted my mom to have a copy.  I read it and am now one of his biggest fans.  If you want to be inspired in the best way, I encourage you to read it, too.  I am quite sure it is no coincidence that Theo, in Greek, means "gift of God".