We are squarely in the season of Lent, a tradition that is born out of second-century Christians wanting to spend time in the leadup to Easter in solidarity with Jesus. This season has held many traditions over its practice.

In modern Christianity, it has especially surrounded giving something up — often a food or drink —something that helps you connect even in a small way to the journey Jesus took to Holy Week. While it is not my tradition, for places with a lot of Catholic influence, not eating meat on Fridays becomes part of the larger culture.

My family is from one of these places, South Louisiana, and I went to college down there as well. Lent certainly looks a bit different in New Orleans and Baton Rouge than out here in California; from the weeks of parades and Mardi Gras celebrations leading up to Lent, to how those meatless Fridays looked during Lent.

While there are multiple ways that it has been explained and observed over time, seafood does not fall in the “meat” category for these Lenten purposes. At some level this makes sense, some salty preserved fish would never be as satisfying of a meal in most places and times as a freshly cooked steak.

But when you live in a place that makes some of the most decadent seafood, it is hard to sell that as a sacrifice. Fridays during Lent were filled with fried catfish, crawfish etouffees and seafood gumbos. I often thought that maybe there was a disconnect here. A situation where we took the “letter of the law” seriously, but skirted its intention. A human reaction to having bounds put upon us.

I had initially viewed this as a human “failing”, and while I think there might be better ways to be in solidarity with Jesus during Lent, I find the ingenuity and ability to find new paths one that should be a celebrated aspect of our humanity. Especially now.

We have arrived in a place where everything seems to be divisive, and care for our neighbors seems to have taken a back seat to so many other things not Christ-like. Some of this is new, but there have always been rules, regulations and societal pressures that have tried to tell people of faith that they were only allowed to show God’s love to people in certain ways.

We have been told we were only allowed to feed hungry people in a certain way or place. That we could only shelter those who did enough on their own. That we should only build up those who live or love like us. Despite all of these pressures, people of faith throughout history have always found ways to stand outside those boxes and say, We ‘followed’ your rules, and those in need were still cared for.

We all know names like Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi — they are giants in movements like this. We also know there are so many faithful people whose names are not instantly recognizable that have made so much happen. You probably know at least a few — most of them are just regular people of faith called to make this world a better place.

They have used that same divinely inspired human ingenuity that led to delicious fried fish during Lent to find ways to care for those around them in need. They are willing to get creative when it comes to seeing the divine in each other and in God’s creation and not allowing a box to keep them from showing the love of God. We can be those people too.

Whether you are observing Lent, or journeying alongside neighbors that are, may you faithfully find ways to care for your neighbors. Even in times where it takes creativity and ingenuity to do so.