Ash Wednesday
February 6, 2008 · Print This Article
When I moved to San Antonio, I knew nothing of Lent. I was brought up Baptist, and we didn’t do Lent. I knew it was something that Catholics did and that it involved giving something up for a period of time. But that’s all I knew. My first Ash Wednesday came shortly after we arrived in town. I saw someone with a smudge on her forehead.
“Excuse me,” I said, “But you have something on your forehead.”
She smiled and said, “It’s ashes.”
I thought that was an odd answer. So I said, “Well, ashes or dirt or whatever. I was just letting you know.”
Things have changed over the last 20 years, and now my Baptist church observes the season of Lent along with most of Christendom. It is a season of mourning, a season of remembering our weak humanity, and a season of entering the desert with Jesus for 40 where we hope to hear from the Spirit of God. A number of our bloggers have posted Ash Wednesday or Lenten essays today. I hope their writing blesses you.
————————————Gordon Atkinson (Real Live Preacher)
Godspace
Portrait of a Writer, Interuppted
It Takes a Church
Novus Lumen
The Suburban Christian
I wish my church recognized Lent; we’re Baptists but I just think it’d be self-sacrificing for us to do so. Sort of a lesson in humility.
Here’s how Baptist I am, Veronica. I didn’t even realize we were that close to Lent! Thanks for reminding us, Gordon… and Christine and Gina and Tod and Gina and Novus and Al. You guys help keep me grounded in liturgy.