Ash Wednesday

Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."    ~Mark 9:33-35

I feel that I must post this video (which is really only an album cover and music) to Facebook at least once a month. It speaks to how much I love this song, how much both its music and lyrics pierce me to the core, and how much I feel absolutely exposed by its message. I think the old-time-religion word for that is, "convicted."

This is a perfect song for Ash Wednesday. What do the burn remnants of palm we smudge on our foreheads mean? That we are frail-- more frail than we know? That, in the end, we are dust, and perhaps that fact ought to inform our living?

I invite all who consider themselves followers of Jesus to observe a holy Lent, by means of prayer (connection with God in a deliberate, regular fashion), fasting (from whatever it is that forms the barrier between ourselves and God), and almsgiving (giving of ourselves, whether time, talent, or treasure, to those whom the world casts aside, vilifies, and whom Jesus would consider, "the least of these").

Peace.

"Frail"written and performed by Jars of Clay

Convinced of my deception
I've always been a fool
I fear this love reaction
Just like you said I would

A rose could never lie
About the love it brings
And I could never promise
To be any of those things

[Chorus:]

If I was not so weak
If I was not so cold
If I was not so scared of being broken
Growing old
I would be...
I would be...
I would be...

Blessed are the shallow
Depth they'll never find
Seemed to be some comfort
In rooms I try to hide

Exposed beyond the shadows
You take the cup from me
Your dirt removes my blindness
Your pain becomes my peace

[Chorus]

...frail