Lent 2014, Day 2: Taking Ashes

So last night Pastor Z held a unique Ash Wednesday service. It had been a long time since we had an Ash Wednesday service at all, so he started the evening with a great video that explained what this season of Lent is all about and what taking the ashes represented. I definitely learned a few things... First, the ashes are traditionally from the palm leaves from the Palm Sunday the year before - how cool is that. Then, the discrepancy between the 40 days of Lent and the usual 46 or so days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday is not because Holy Week is not included in Lent, but because each Sunday is a mini-celebration of Easter and they are therefore not included in the 40 total days. (Does that mean there are 40 "business" days until Easter? LOL...)  Lastly I was reminded that taking the ashes, and actually the whole Lenten season, is about turning from sin to repentance, about remembering that we can't do it on our own, in fact, we're not made to. The video reminded me that we do not wear ashes to proclaim our holiness but to humbly admit that we've sinned and are in need of repentance and renewal.
The video also stated it well, that during this season we traditionally fast, pray, and give, but why do we do these things? We fast because depriving ourselves of a basic need reminds us of our utter dependence on God; and the money we "save" while fasting traditionally goes to those in need. Which reminds us that we give because what is given to us by God is not for us alone, but for us to share with others and for the service of others. And we pray because we are not self-sufficient; we have a need inside of us that cannot be filled by ourselves or others; we have a holy longing and must look to God. In the video they used the Lone Ranger as an example of the mythical American hero - self-made, independent, and alone. But Tonto is closer to a Biblical definition of hero - part of a tribe, community minded and dependent. It ended with the idea that Ash Wednesday (and Lent) is all about repentance (fasting), renewal (praying), and community (giving)...
Pastor Z then had us go through different stations where we delved a little into the Word and reflected on concepts like being salt and light, allowing God to mold and form you like clay, and doing some Spiritual "spring cleaning" by washing away the grunge of regrets and the dust of complacency. I'll tell you more about those in the next couple of days. It may sound a little crazy, but I've gotten to where I really look forward to Lent as it has become a real season of growth and renewal in my year to year living. I hope these posts will help you realize the joy of this season instead of focusing attention of the deprivation and obligation that is so often associated with Lent.