Another Valentine’s Day has come and gone, and sometimes it feels like just another excuse for the greeting card industry to make a grab for your money. Though biblical in origin, the sweet secular sentiments of love have been overshadowed by pressure to be in a relationship, purchase grocery-store flowers and indulge the chocolate makers.

We begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 14, only a few weeks after our celebration of the Christmas season. That’s early, so we may feel that we are not “ready” yet.