Today is observed as Strove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, or Pancake Tuesday. Today, the palms from last year’s Palm Sunday are burned to make the ashes that will be imposed on us on Ash Wednesday as we enter the Lenten Season of confession and absolution.

For many around the world, festivities are ending, many of us will be sure to make resolutions about what we will give up during Lent, and many of us, myself including will take the opportunity to enjoy some IHOP pancakes, which will hopefully be my last sweet treat until Easter. But apart from the things that we are planning to put down for Lent, let us focus on what we could take up for Lent. We could carve out time for meditation and prayer, perform random acts of kindness or just try to be a better person, and make an effort to connect with others in an intentional way, to help bring them closer to Jesus.