Ash Wed.

This is the day of new beginnings...a first step into the wilderness of sacrifice, introspection and mud on our face. Or ashes to be more clear.

I will be leading a 10 minute service today at 1100 local. I will remind us that the ashes mean 3 things (at least):

• Ashes are an outward and visible sign of an inward penitent spirit (our sin grieves us)
• Ashes make us stick out today, but we should stick out the other 364 days of the year by the counter culture ways we love, extend grace and answer to a higher calling
• And ashes are a sign of hope. In the words of one of my favorite Meatloaf songs, "you've been through the fires of hell and have the ashes to prove it!" The hell of our sin is not the last word...

...but I am getting ahead of myself. We got 39 more days (not counting Sundays, i.e. "Little Easters") of wilderness to go. Repentance during Lent is not quick, it might hurt and it differently will cause of to lean on each other.

May your Lenten journey be Holy.