Ash Wednesday is a fascinating phenomenon. In fact, I find it so interesting that I consider it one of my absolute favorite days of the year. I would dare say that most of us raised in the Catholic system have some deep attachment to the day. But that’s really quite strange when you think about it! Why is it that people go out of their way to attend religious services in such high quantities on this particular day? Even with the seemingly morbid overtones? Three (maybe two- and-a-half, rather) thoughts come to me immediately. 

One explanation we could call “tribalism.” You show up on this day, you receive this mark on your forehead, then you’re clearly branded as a member of a group. With this, you can identify “your own.” There’s obvious reasons this can be dangerous, but in some way, we all seek to be a part of something. To belong. The risk is, of course, that then we have an “us” and a “them.” We all know this was not the way Jesus lived his own life, and we must be conscious to avoid this creeping into our mind. Religion can be a wall, but Jesus chooses instead to call it a gate (John 10:9). On this front, I think the progressives among us feel a bit awkward about the ritual. I know that I personally question that, should I go in public with this smudge on my face (and trust me, I don’t have a great hairline to help hide anything!) I may be categorized in a way I don’t wish to be. In this I mean, our cultural concept and experience of Christianity is generally not positive. Our religion has hurt people. And it continues to. So when they see ashes what does one see? Do they assume right-wing politics? Maybe that you’ve got some outdated thoughts on sex? Or that you don’t believe in full women’s equality? Of course we must challenge the narrative, but we must also challenge the system which allowed Christianity to become conflated with such nasty things. 

Option two is what I suspect is the normal motive for an average attendee, which is that people are, genuinely and generally, quite spiritually inclined. This holiday provides an opportunity to reflect upon our human condition and ponder our very existence. It’s sentimental to many of us and many assume that attendance is obligatory. In this way it’s a yearly “check in!” A reevaluation of core convictions. My hope though, is that we have the honesty to allow for healing and change. And with this, there is an option for a nuanced third option.

Lent falls in a beautiful time where change fills the world around us. Days get longer, flowers start to bloom, and seasonal depression dissipates. We have a renewed sense that there is beauty in the world when Spring comes. We see the chance to grow. To be human is to change, and it’s my assumption that we each have ways in which we would like to improve. Ash Wednesday gives us the opportunity, the commission, and (hopefully) the excitement to become better people! How can we contribute to creating a more loving world? Who in our lives has some area of need that we may help with? What systems of oppression need to be addressed? In our desire to live more peace-filled lives, we need (on a psychological level) moments/rituals that remind us of our potential. Today can hold that potential. 

It is important though that we consider our theology as we look at this holiday this way. We can have a retributive view of God, or a restorative one. One who is punitive, or one who wants our wellbeing. Keep calling yourself a “miserable sinner” and you will, in fact, find yourself to be miserable. Acknowledge the radical potential in each person and their inherent loveability, and, well, misery will not be for you. We can harm one another or we can heal. The choice is ours. We must acknowledge our failures, but we must not let them destroy our lives.  

May this season be kind to you, and may we do the same in return. 

For Lent this year I would like to invite you to honestly consider what we can change in our lives to become better (and happier) people as we discussed earlier. This means taking a deep look within ourselves and asking honestly “What is working?” and “What needs to go?” I’ve noticed the trend in recent years of not “giving up” things for Lent but instead doing something proactive. This can be good (if the activity is ordered towards good) but there are also times when we need to omit certain habits so that we can actually grow.

Maybe we struggle with continually putting ourselves down? Beating ourselves up constantly leads to awful self image and this is seen by those around us, often chasing them away. Maybe we are hypercritical as our de-facto way of communicating? Trust me, we will get through this without an opinion on everything! I’ve noticed many men recently simply start talking while women are speaking as if they’re entitled to the “air time.” Yup, that’s gotta go too! Poor relationship to certain substances? Look into that!

But should you want to add a practice, my suggestion is simply to keep your eyes open in this coming season. Like literally keep your eyes open. As in, allow yourself to be moved by the warming temperatures and emerging sights and sounds. Allow yourself the space to simply find things neat! You were already reminded of your mortality today, don’t rush back to the dust before you have to.

There are many things to be said of someone as impressive as Pauli Murray, and I am not the one to write that story. What is important though, is that we know who she is. A civil rights activist, author, queer advocate, legal scholar, theorist, and even, a priest (among the first women ordained in the Episcopal Church even!) There are many such witnesses saying that religious conviction must imply social concern, but as we mentioned earlier, this is not the normative experience of Christianity in America today. While there are numerous progressives doing wonderful work, their voices are drowned out by a version of the gospel with an oddly (conservative) American bent. I assume Pauli would laugh at this and insist that the only sincere option is to keep believing that change is possible, worthwhile, and our innate call. 

I suggest looking into her story, we might learn something to better solve our current societal issues!

As we head off into this season, here’s a poem by Pauli that we might sit with:

We are spendthrifts with words,
We squander them,
Toss them like pennies in the air–
Arrogant words,
Angry words,
Cruel words,
Comradely words,
Shy words tiptoeing from mouth to ear.

But the slowly wrought words of love
and the thunderous words of heartbreak–
Those we hoard.