By Marianne Wood

Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, and Valentine’s Day, the start of another day of sweet gratification, begin on the same day this year. Is there a Greg playing a trick on us…a ploy by a calendar miscreant? For the faithful, one must choose a path to indulgence or piety. What to do!

Shall we count this challenge as mildly humorous or mockingly instructive? I’m taking both views with a massive grain of salt. Yes, salty over sweet. Cheetos over cupcakes. But here’s where the debate actually starts. What could be more stimulating for a healthy discussion about faith practices? Probably lots of things. But this one is fun. It raises a question of other juxtapositions or contrasts, if you prefer. Say each word aloud, and you’ll be convinced that the longer word is more fun and fitting in this context. Now, we’ve just held another debate.

The photos below show contrasts from photographs I’ve had fun collecting over many years. The first, a popular donut shop, once operated next door to an alterations store. I love donuts, but I’ll always consider this business pairing instructive. Next, Filene’s Basement in New York City is well above ground. And finally, The Berlin Wall, decorated with distressed imagery by Thierry Noir and Kiddy Citny, mounted next to a cooling wall fountain, is framed with foliage. They, too, raise a series of dilemmas. The first two are easy: food and shopping challenges; the last is much more profound. “How much do freedom and peace cost,” the pairing inquires.   

What will be hard for the rule followers will be a short dilemma for many. I fall back on my middle child mentality and shoot for the median: treats until noon, fast after that!

What do you say?

Marianne Wood works as an editorial assistant and researcher for Bill Wright