Ash Wednesday

Any insights for Ash Wednesday?

Matthew 6

Seems I've preached on this before too!

I'm thinking about something I saw that scolded us for not giving things up for Lent. Something to be said for that. Not necessarily the scolding. But the encouragement to consider self denial. I think of the title to Nicholas Kristof's 1/23 column about the girl who - taking note of the inequities in our world - convinced her family to sell their house and give half of the proceeds from that sale to charity. "What Could You Live Without?"

I like her line. . . "Everyone has too much of something, whether it's time, talent or treasure. Everyone does have their own half, you just have to find it."

This is culled from an entry for Lent almost 3 years ago. . .

I’ve told a few people this great story. After worship on Wednesday, I was home, and my 5 year old was curious about the cross on my forehead. He asked me about why it was there.
A few minutes later he said, “Dad, that cross makes you look smart!”
Yup.
As Dr. No Toll said in response to this insight, we are smart when we admit that we do not know.
I wonder at the metaphors we use, the images we live by.
Just saw a bumper sticker. US Flag, with big letters STANDING TALL.
What if standing tall simply puts you in the line of fire?
You have been sealed by the Holy Spirit, and marked with the cross of Christ forever.