Ash Wednesday

From dust you came and from dust you will be resurrected.

Last night I attended Ash Wednesday service. For those of you that don’t know, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season. Lent is the 40 day period leading up the super bowl Sunday for Christians a/k/a Easter. The goal of Lent is not to make a plan for change and follow it to the letter. Rather, the goal is to make a change that sinks deeply into life, drawing us closer to self, others, and God. Lent is about intentionally opening ourselves, preparing to receive God’s goodness.

My prayer for this Ash Wednesday is:

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence O Lord,
Take not thy Holy Spirit from me,
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation,
and renew a right spirit within me.