A users' guide for Episcopalians

Today marks the halfway point (more or less) of the season of Lent. The length of this season—40 days—is a symbolic reflection of a number of Biblical stories, including the 40 days Noah spent on the ark, the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the desert after escaping slavery in Egypt, and the 40 days Christ spent fasting and praying in the desert before beginning his public ministry. All of those stories revolve around a time of waiting and preparation, and so does the season of Lent as we wait and prepare for Easter.