Lent 2010- How Goes It?

I am always amazed at the numbers of people who show up for Ash Wednesday services.  A colleague of mine actually says that more people are showing up for Ash Wednesdays lately than show up for Christmas or Easter.  What a surpirse.  Really.  We used to refer to those people as "ChrEasters."  Now we're going to have to come up with a new name, like ChrAshSters? 

What makes people come on Ash Wednesday day?  I wish I could answer that.  Why don't you?  Would you be willing to explain why you show up for Ash Wednesday services?

I am also amazed to hear some of the statistics that lots of people actually engage the Lenten practices of fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent.  I don't want to sound like a cynic, but when you're working in the Church, you're looking at things like Mass attendance as a benchmark for how serious people are about practicing their faith.  A lot of people don't go to Mass every weekend, and some only go a few times a year.  So, it is surprising (a happy surprise) that people are serious about Lent.  Good.  Sweet.  Why?  What do you like about Lent and what are you doing to engage the Lenten disciplines of Fasting, Praying and Giving Alms?