Today is Ash Wednesday. In years past, it was traditionally recognized by Catholics as a day to go to church and get the priest to administer the ashes upon your forehead. I always showed my ignorance at the hospital where I worked as the first person would come into the door of our Accounting office and I'd, like an idiot, tell them they had a smudge on their forehead. It seems that year after year I managed to do this. Would I ever not show my continued ignorance of this day that marks the "official" beginning of the holiest of times for Christians?
Well, I'm still in the dark somewhat about this holy day. The church I've attended all my life has begun to embrace recognizing this day as well. I have been able to attend an Ash Wednesday service from time to time and had the ashes placed on my forehead, in the shape of a cross and been told to remember my baptism. I believe the ashes are made from burning the palms of the previous years palm branches used in the Palm Sunday service. I'm not clear on all of the specifics of the ritual, but because I do want to prepare myself for the Holy season between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, I'm going to make an effort to learn.
As I was thinking about just how to go about learning more about the Lenten season, I noticed on my UpperRoom devotion page a suggestion to go to the UpperRoom website and see their Lenten Study Guide. Perfect! I will be doing that as soon as I'm done here.
Kentucky fans really got rangled last night watching the Cats play the Dogs down in Starkville, Mississippi. Could our Cats have looked any more clueless as to what they were doing in the opening minutes of that game? It was shocking to see these players throw up one futile shot after another in an attempt to close the growing gap between the bulldog point tally and the wildcat score. Thankfully, they got their heads together during halftime and began playing like the elite team that they are. Big Blue Nation made a collective "WHEW" in the latter part of the second half of the ESPN latenight game.
I have to confess that, not only will I be giving up sweets for lent, but also speeding. I've always managed to allow myself the permission to go faster than the speed limit on so many occasions because I was intending to use my time to do good and helpful things. Always figured that God was watching over me and protecting me and my lead foot. Well, the protection ended this past Friday when I was pulled over after leaving my volunteer job and driving across the downtown area to make a deposit for my homemaker's club. I was running behind and still had to make a delivery to recycling and pick up dogfood before I could get back to my little country church for a 1:00 United Methodist Women's meeting. I didn't even try to explain all this to the very serious young officer who gave me my ticket for traveling at a "high rate of speed". So, I'm gonna give myself more time to get to where I'm supposed to be and slow down and pay closer attention to the speed limits. Still trying to figure out how to come up with the $165 to pay the ticket for going 11 miles over the posted limit.
The weather today is supposed to be Springlike, so I am looking forward to getting out for a walk with the doggies. I hope you're also able to enjoy being outdoors today and take a couple minutes to remember your baptism and the beginning of this special time of year. Stay safe and have a great day, luv, Susan
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