A Season of Reflection and Renewal: When Sacred Seasons Meet

This week at Chatham Hall has been filled with intentional moments of reflection, learning, and celebration. We began with a beautiful service led by our International Student Association, who taught us about the Lunar New Year and invited us more deeply into their traditions. Last night the sun set and we prepared for Ramadan. Today, Lent begins. Recently, I heard a refrain that feels especially fitting for this sacred convergence of seasons:

Yesterday, we marked Shrove Tuesday with pancakes at lunch and our lively and laughter-filled Pancake Relay. Today, we are offering a shuttle to Emmanuel Episcopal Church so that students may attend the Ash Wednesday service and begin the season of Lent in community.

The word Lent comes from an Old English word for spring, perhaps connected with the lengthening of days in the Northern Hemisphere. Lent is a forty-day season of reflection, prayer, spiritual discipline, and self-examination in preparation for Easter. Ash Wednesday opens this season with the imposition of ashes, a powerful reminder of our reliance on God’s grace.

One student shared, “Though somber, Ash Wednesday is one of my favorite services of the year as it serves as a reset for me. I can think about how to turn toward God and let go of things that are not helpful. The ashes are also a visible and physical reminder that life is precious and fleeting.”

At the same time, Ramadan begins for many members of our community and for Muslims around the world. Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic faith and commemorates the revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. It is a month marked by fasting, worship, service, communal gathering, and spiritual growth. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and each Muslim experiences the month in personal and meaningful ways.

As another student reflected, “Ramadan is the time of year I look forward to the most, as it is a time for me to journey inward. Ramadan allows me to connect with my inner self and reflect upon the progress I have made toward becoming a better person. It also helps me think about the work I still need to do.”

In a single week, our community has flipped pancakes, received ashes, prepared for fasting, and learned from one another’s traditions. We are reminded that reflection and celebration can live side by side, and that growth often begins with intention.