Today I wear my faith...ashes on my forehead. I love this day. Not only is it a reminder of my baptism to me and to whom I belong, but also it tells the world that I am a "marked person." I have been crucified with Christ...I do not belong to myself. I belong body, mind and soul to Jesus Christ who is my Lord and Savior. I am dead to myself...and alive in Christ.
Already, 2 people trying to be helpful have said, "hey you have some kind of dirt on your forehead." "It's Ashes for Ash Wednesday," I replied, "I'm a Christian." One person said, "Oh, you're one of those!" What I think was meant to be an insult, I accepted with joy as one set a part.
Every day, I pray that my actions and the ways the I speak to people and really look at people will bear witness to Christ in my life; or at least some curiousity about being different than other customers. I pray that people will know my allegiance by the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5) that are manifested in my ordinary and daily kindnesses.
But today, little snowflakes of ashes are sprinkling down my face and reminding me of my own mortality. Today, I am marked by death...and because of this, I am free.
No comments:
Post a Comment