Ash Wednesday

This past Wednesday was Ash Wednesday. Although our church does not practice the ceremony of Ash Wednesday per se, our preacher sees the value in it and has talked about it the last two years (at least). For those not familiar, it is the beginning of Lent season, and to really simplify it, it is a time in which we identify with the death of Jesus so that when we can better identify with His resurrection. It is a reminder not only of Jesus' death, but of the death in this world, and our own death to come.

Last year, our preacher began our Ash Wednesday service by stating, "You are going to die." I remember, because it was the first church service I attended after hearing my lump was malignant. I could see the humor in the timing...I did not take it as prophetic...but still...it was a bit eerie.

This year, Ash Wednesday felt a lot better. It is still a bit unsettling to hear the words, "You are going to die," but it felt better. And, as I shared with my minister after the service, the message in Ash Wednesday is in part, the lesson of cancer.

Cancer is the reminder that we are terminal. For many of us, we get to take the message as a gift, and not an immenent happening. We get to take the reminder and "live with it"...fully, with purpose, and hopefully with joy. Thanks, Preacher Mike, for helping me remember.