Ash Wednesday, Late

Should have planned farther ahead for an Ash Wednesday post!  But as so often happens, life crowded out blogging. Today we had orthodontist appointments--plural--not just B12's usual adjustment, but an evaluation for Chicklet, the next messy mouth in line--and a doctor appointment for B6's weird skin thing going on around his eye.  Last night the spring session of theater classes started up again, and I'm teaching Drama 1, a basic acting class with a theme of portraying animal characters.  It was so fun to be back in the saddle again...or should I say, back in the classroom.  After all, I majored in Elementary Education because I enjoy teaching!  The subject matter is new to me, but after one night...I can tell this is going to be fun.

So, Facebook to the rescue!  A friend of a friend recommended two articles on Ash Wednesday and Lent, and I commend them to you as well.

Lent is a call to weep for what we could have been and are not. Lent is the grace to grieve for what we should have done and did not. Lent is the opportunity to change what we ought to change but have not. Lent is not about penance. Lent is about becoming, doing and changing whatever it is that is blocking the fullness of life in us right now.

Lent is a summons to live anew.

from Ash Wednesday and Lent: Beginning Again Always, by Sister Joan Chittister

Lent reminds us of whose we are. The "sacrifices," the disciplines, these are not intended as good works offered by us to God; rather, they are God's gifts to us to remind us who we are, God's adopted daughters and sons, God's treasure, so priceless that God was willing to go to any length -- or, more appropriately, to any depth -- to tell us that we are loved, that we have value, that we have purpose.

from The Trouble (And Blessing) of Lent, by David Lose