Posted by
Conservative Wordsmith on Wednesday, February 06, 2008 11:55:14 PM
Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin writes: Due to the disappointing Super Tuesday results for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, I'm sure there are many that are just as perplexed as I am about Mitt Romney's future role in the political arena. I am tempted to write a political post, but I have decided to refrain, due to the fact that today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, a day that is supposed to be devoted to serious inner spiritual reflection.
Today is the day that many Christians go to church and receive ashes on their foreheads, with the admonition that we should turn away from our sins, and be true to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that we are all made of dust, and shall eventually return to dust. Believe me when I say that there can be great joy in the midst of such solemnity.
As I looked at my Christian brothers and sisters in church this morning, humbly and willingly allowing themselves to receive the sign of the cross, in the substance of ashes, on their foreheads, I could not help but feel a sense of awe and gratitude.
When everyone's forehead displays this same holy symbol made out of the black ashes from the previous year's Palm Sunday palm branches, one senses a common spiritual bond, and can readily see the inner seriousness of those who took the time out of their busy schedules to be reminded, like obedient children, that earthly life is fleeting and temporary.
Today, on Ash Wednesday, we recognize, in a special way, that we all need to repent of our sins, and can find our way back to God through fasting, penitence (sorrow for one's sins), prayer, helping those more needy than ourselves, and almsgiving.
One also is reminded that, in spite of our differences, we also have incredible similarities. We humans are traveling together through life on the same ship. People of good will have the same doubts and fears, and prayerful intentions to make the right choices in their lives. There are many that want to perform acts of goodness in the midst of evil, and feel sad when failure with a capital "F" introduces itself, and then proceeds to rub it in until it hurts.
Things do not always go the way we thought they would. We are not robots, but human beings, and mistakes have and will be made. Our only sure hope is to present ourselves humbly before the Great Master Jesus, and invite Him to take over the helm and guide us safely through the stormy seas.
Please pray for me during these holy days of Lent, my brothers and sisters in Christ, as I shall for you, and hopefully, when the floods cease, and the sun emerges once again on Easter Sunday, we shall all see and recognize the risen Christ together, and rejoice in the Lord.
Related Links
http://catholic-practices.
suite101.com/
article.cfm/
ash_wednesday_
begins_lent
http://www.yenra.com/
catholic/passages/
lent/rules.html
http://www.woodlands-
junior.kent.sch.uk/
customs/easter/
ashwednesday.htm
http://www.answers.com/
topic/ash-wednesday
http://www.mittromney.com/
http://www.mittromney.com/
Ann-Romney/index
http://www.evangelicalsformitt.org/
http://www.mittreport.com/
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Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin, author of the Conservative Wordsmith Weblog, appreciates your thoughts and comments.