The Christian season of lent is a time of reflection, and emphasis on renewal, reflection on how to be a better person, perhaps without sin, and renewal of spirit. During the six weeks of lent, Christians are encouraged to fast, repent, and align with spiritual truths. These are lofty expectations toward the road leading to Easter Sunday.  Easter represents, the celebration of life, and the joy of the Christ light within us.

On Ash Wednesday, as I approached the deacon to receive the marking of the ash cross on my forehead, I felt as if I was transported to a time of ancient ritual.  The ashes usually are the remains of the fronds from the previous years Palm Sunday service. The palms which represented the adulation from the ancient people who celebrated the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, the week before his death and subsequent resurrection so many years ago.

As the sign of the cross is made across my forehead from the ashes a feeling of great love and a deep compassion filled me as I accepted the promise the ashes seem to bring. The ashes promise love, a release from what isn’t working in life. Letting go of judgment, unforgiveness, frustration and pain.

What is life but experience; in this physical body we are blessed with we are learning, trying, and learning some more. Perhaps even getting better, smarter and sometimes wiser as the lessons come and pass. Everyday we are offered opportunities to demonstrate our souls reality. The best part of you is that light within, the soul the source of Creators energy. Practicing to be the best you can be in all that you fearlessly attempt is an honor to the light from which you come.

The ashes remind us that we are spirit, we are souls having a human experience and that when all is done, we return to the source of our soul life and ash is what remains.

What seems most important to life experience is love; the representation of eternal love, which Jesus demonstrated during that fateful time in history as he entered Jerusalem on the road to the Resurrection.