In much of the upper Midwest, we may as well crawl into our deep freezers. This is ridiculous. It is so cold, ashes tossed into the crisp, fresh air will turn into icicles. It is too cold for Ash Wednesday.
There are other things to do than go to a church building to be smeared with ashes. It is too busy a time for Ash Wednesday.
It is an unpopular idea to remember our mortality, to name the false promises of our lives, and to admit we need help. It is too hard to face Ash Wednesday.
Yes, it is too cold, too busy, and too hard to face Ash Wednesday. However, there is something on your face that already has. The invisible reminder on your forehead is made visible in the smearing of ashes. Only on this day each year when you do the work of cleaning off the ashes can you see that Christ has already broken into our cold hearts, our busy schedules, and our hard and complicated lives.
Christ has left his mark of mercy on you.
Photo by Adrien Olichon on Unsplash
Lisa Lewton 