**Note: This is not identified as a Christian blog, but I was inspired to write after attending Ash Wednesday services.**
The Lenten season is a time for rebirth and forgiveness. It allows people to start over and renew their faith; historically it was the time of the year for baptism. While I have only been attending services at St. Albert the Great for a few weeks, I feel renewed and spiritually refreshed each Sunday morning. This is the time of year that I return to my spiritual roots and renew my commitment to the church and my faith. I also brought my son to take part in the services and to encourage him to become an active participant in the church.
During Lent, we are asked to give up something or do something extra, so we can know God and the sacrifices Jesus made for humanity. The message of the Homily was to encourage us to give alms to God in secret, but also to unite our private and public lives. I thought it was contradictory at first, but I’ve come to understand that God sees our private life as well as our public life the same and we should only have to live one life to serve God.
Upon receiving the customary ashes and hearing the words “Woman, from dust you were born and dust you shall return,” made me teary eyed or spiritually awakened. To think that I am on this Earth only for a short time to live out God’s purpose is humbling. To feel that I am not doing all that I can to live a purposeful and giving life, is heartrending. Therefore, Lent encourages me to live a more purposeful life, to live the life I was intended to live.
I keep on trying to live that life, while praying for the answers. I hope I am able to hear them though they may be whispers or unspoken signs.
Whether you are Christian, Jewish, Pagan or another faith, I hope you are able to live a purposeful life, a life that is lived with intended purpose.
