A Day of Remembrance

Welcome to Lent, as today is Ash Wednesday.

Lent is not a new observance, as early Christians prayed, honored, and reflected on the forty-day journey of Christ to the cross. Ash Wednesday, a day where we are reminded of the journey of our own lives, we oftentimes think about the ones we loved and who are no longer walking with us on our journey.

What gifts did these loved ones leave behind?

Is there a tradition that we keep going to honor their lives?

How did they help us to see the world differently?

What kind of Grace did they afford us, when we were being really hard on ourselves and gave us the faith to journey on?

The first small group I participated in after joining Marble Collegiate Church focused on M. Scott Peck's, The Road Less Traveled. A classic for sure, but reading the book the same fall of the terrorist attacks on 9/11 profoundly changed me. Not the first three sections of the book, but part four on grace and how to be open to it and welcome it in.

This Ash Wednesday I will focus on the word grace and the loved ones who showed me grace, my Angels. And as grace is all around me, I need to be open to find, see, and be a witness to these moments that enter my life.

This year's Lenten Blog draws its inspiration from artist, poet, and writer Cleo Wade's children's book, What the Road Said. An encouraging book, geared towards building young leaders, is filled with grace from the road of life.

We hope you journey with us this Lent with an open heart to listen to stories from the road of life. We are all not in the same boat, but let our poetry, stories, music and art we share inspire you on your road and give you peace in these challenging times.

“The universe, this stepping stone, has been laid down to prepare the way for us.” M. Scott Peck

Who are you honoring today?

Marcie Doll, Curator of the Lenten and Advent Blogs

P.S. Listen to the author read, What the Road Said.