ash wednesday

one thing i think i missed out on growing up in a nondenominational church is certain days/times throughout the year that are really set aside and acknowledged (certain ones i disagree with, like the assumption of mary, etc.)... but specifically, ash wednesday.  in the past i've been so turned off to these days, like ash wednesday and lent and even advent, because i thought there was too much of a spirit of obligation and insincerity around them, which may be true for some but was not very loving or accurate of me to have the whole catholic church/other denominations represented in my mind that way.  i think there's something really beautiful about the idea of rhythms in the year to acknowledge different things and seasons.  besides God naturally setting everything up in seasons/rhythms (like the sabbath, day & night, women's monthly cycles, changes in weather throughout the year, life milestones), it is important to set up those spiritual rhythms in our lives as well, in sincerity.  i think ash wednesday helps prepare our hearts for easter.  i attended my first ash wednesday service yesterday (at the nondenom church i go to, which i thought was cool!) and was struck by the emphasis they placed on turning to the LORD and returning to the LORD.  it seems my life is a squiggly line going towards the LORD, instead of a straight line.  it is going in His direction, always, but there's that wandering and then that redirecting back to Him that is constantly taking place.  i am thankful for this public acknowledgement of our wandering and of the need to turn, once again.

from dust we are and shall return.