Sooty Ash Wednesday

Dear Friends in Christ -

AAARRRGGGHHH! After spending 30 minutes writing an Ash Wednesday post for all of you, POOF, it disappeared as if in a puff of smoke. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."

I chuckle at myself. Especially on days like today, I'm tempted to take myself a little too seriously. Sigh. Not that this Ash Wednesday/Lent stuff isn't serious business. It is indeed. But the purpose of the seriousness of this day of penitence and fasting is to put ourselves in a position to hear God's invitation to draw closer.

We begin this process of getting closer to God by doing nothing less than putting a sign on our foreheads that serves as something of a giant sticky note announcing, "It's a mess in here!" God already knew that. Wearing black crosses on our foreheads just tells others what God knows - and what we usually try to hide behind a tidy veneer of tidy clothing and (at least mostly) responsible behavior.

Now that everyone's on the same page and has been served notice of our untidiness, we can fling wide the doors and start the process of cleaning up the mess. Where to begin? Let God help. He didn't get us into our messes, but I have it on good authority that (1) he wants to help and (2) he has the power to help. That doesn't mean we won't have our part to do, it just means that we don't have to do it alone. Good news? You bet. And there's more to come . . .

On this sooty Ash Wednesday, as ashes from the early service drift down from time to time on my nose and glasses, I offer this solemn prayer and blessing for you as you begin the observance of a holy Lent:
Grant, most merciful Lord, to your faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve you with a quiet mind, through Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - be upon you and remain with you, now and forever. Amen.

Faithfully (again!),
Janet+