Ashes

[Lin]

Today is Ash Wednesday. We begin the season of Lent in my church. It's the 40 day celebration of the days before the death and resurrection of Jesus. If you see ashes on somebody's forehead today, be sure not to tell them they have a smudge on their faces.

In 1969 I was attending a catholic college. I was in a large class and arrived early. A girl came in and i saw the smudge on her face. I wanted to tell her she had a smudge, and was jsut about to cross the room when another girl came in with the same smudge. OOPS. This must be on purpose! I realized what it was and was so glad I did not say anything to them. I was not catholic at the time. I joined the catholic church in 1995, after teaching in the catholic schools 25 years.

During lent many catholics make sacrifices such as giving up sweets or donating time at a homeless shelter. I like to find something that will make me a better person and grow stronger in my faith. This year I plan to read a daily scripture reading and give up all soft drinks. I'm donating the soft drink money to a local shelter. My mom used to say she was giving up sex and watermelon for Lent. Some years I make an effort to reach out more in my recovery to others...such as posting at least 7 times on the boards each day. I have no idea why I picked 7, but I did.

Not sure why I posted this. It's jsut on my mind today and I wanted to share.

LIN

[Caressa2]

Don't remember this being a part of the teaching of my church when I was growing up, but remember people observing the tradition and remember questioniing why.

To me they represent negativity, it is another one of those 'religious' teaching which tell you that you are bad and need to do penance. For me either I am forgiven or I am not, and I don't have to pay the rest of my life. I think life should be about finding the good in ourselves, and like you say doing good things for others, but then why just at Lent, why not all year round. Like being grateful all year round, not just at Thanksgiving.

When I think of ashes, and the words "sack cloth and ashes" come to mind. To me that is about feeling and being less than. Today I am carry a message about being clean, I want to carry a clean message of recovery. Not about being less than, nor better than, but than we are one and loved no matter who we are, our status in life and what we wear, etc.

To me that isn't humility, and for that is walking in the darkness instead of the Light! Christ paid the price so we didn't have to. We don't have to continue in our life as victim and martyr, we are free because of His Love and Gift of new life. This sounds disrespectful, but I will never forget the first time I heard someone say, "Get off the cross, we need the wood!" For me that means there are better ways to spend our time than living in the past, but we need to live in today, and carry the message of "good" to others.

This is just my opinion, I was surprised all this came out and that I had such strong feelings on it. Thank you for letting me share.

[Lin]

We all have our opinions Caressa. That's good you can get them out.

Perhaps my feelings about the ashes are diffferent because i took on the tradition as an adult and the church has changed over the years. It IS a sign of repentenance...it is also to me a sign that I will begin the next few weeks preparing for Easter by changing my ways in positive ways. I will do things that make me a better person and stronger in my faith. The sackcloth and ashes is where it comes from, but that was an extreme form of it. It is an outward sign that I am Christian. It is an inward sign that I will turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.

LIN

[SaraLee]

I grew up in the Luthern religion and today I'm not associated with any particular religion or set of beliefs, but I still enjoy some of the ritual or symbolic events that many religion's participate in because I enjoy ritual and I can enjoy them because I place my own meaning onto them. Lin and Caressas it's great that both of you see Lent differently but more important, that you find something positive in what you do believe. Thanks for sharing.
SaraLee

[SunnyGirl]

I see religion as a very personal topic.......

along with politics! Hugs, SG

[Lin]

I agree Sg that religion and Politics are very personal things. I do apologize if I offended anybody. I only meant to share a personal story about a time i almost embarrassed myself by my ignorance.

In our family all you have to do is mention politics and you can get a HUGE screaming match started. I stay clear of it, myself. When the fight over politics starts , i leave the room.

But I apologize again if I stepped on anybody's toes by my post. I'll keep my experiences to myself from now on if they in any way possible relate to politics or religion. OK?

LIN

[SaraLee]

Dear Lin,
You didn't offend me. I appreciate your sharing your story, your beliefs.
SaraLee

[SunnyGirl]

( ( ( ( Lin ) ) ) )

No apology needed here! And I have to admit
I almost made the same blunder as you did with
the ashes. Just trying to keep simple.....

Hugs, SG

[Caressa2]

Well I apologize if I offened anyone, because I didn't mean it as such. I was raised in the Gospel Halls for the first twenty-two years of my life, taught Sunday School and sang in the choir.

I still have strong religious beliefs, but I do admit not to having a lot of religous practices.

I am glad you shared this Lin, because it allowed me to share on what was within me, and for me, that is what recovery is about.

It isn't about either/or, it is about whatever works for you.

[lildee]

Frankly I am glad we all share our differences. It is through our sharing that we each come to understand one another. Being from a different denomination I find it very interesting and educational to learn about the differences in religion. As long as we each respect each others beliefs. I am in a mixed marriage so we have always had open discussions about religion and the differences and the similarities. It is something that has brought us even closer over the years. He questions why I do the things that I do and I explain, and the reverse is also true. Years ago my mom said "never talk about sex, religion, or politics." But if we don't discuss these things how can we possibly understand each other? You know the more we share about these things the more similar we will find out that we are. Just humans struggling to make the most out of our lives and see the next day.