Welcome to Lent

Ash Wednesday marked not only our foreheads, but the beginning of this year's Lenten season. We are challenged to renew our focus on God and fulfilling our baptismal promises in some way. Some people choose to give something up and others commit to making more time to focus on God, and some just both or a variation. We'll be posting stuff during this Lenten season to offer a reflection, activity, or a thought to accompany you on your journey.


This year, Ash Wednesday fell on the day before the Lunar New Year, which is another reminder that we are given a chance to make a fresh start. To prepare for the new year, families wash and clean their homes so they literally start their new year fresh and clean- it is supposedly bad luck to clean right after the year has started, so Wednesday was the last day to get it done before you can start the rest of the new year's traditions. Well, though I'm not Asian and not quite sure about the "bad luck," I nevertheless found myself cleaning my home until the late hours of the night on Wednesday.


Psalm 51:2 reads "Wash me thoroughly from my inequity and cleanse me from my sin."

So, even though it's past, find a way to start Lent by looking it as opportunity for a fresh start. Find something that needs cleaning, or finish working on something that you left hanging.