I felt like I needed some sort of schedule for Ash Wednesday even though I didn’t really – I have already been in a Lenten-focused mood even if I didn’t know where to place ALL my energy – but I knew that going to some type of service where they dispense ashes would bring me a good message about the journey of Jesus and how my journey could be enhanced – and I always like inspiration in my writing so why not to the gospels themselves…  And it was a good journey even if short – And I walked in to a catholic church at a “prayer gathering” – just randomly picked one off the google maps being close by at a time convenient to me – which for me is always running late.

I would be the one running late to everything but I did get there – after a dozen little “errands” including an online store pick up order which was being fulfilled while I was at the church service. I realized late that I was wearing silly leggings but thought well hey they don’t know me so Jesus said come as you are…  And I got into the parking lot and gasped at the hundreds of cars – wow!!!  and snuck in the back – well middle on the side hiding those leggings – and I got the best view of the glorious cucifix of Christ and the painting so detailed of the angels and the Holy Spirit Dove in golden splendor – with Mary and John at his cross – and the soldier who came to believe – and oh the BLUE – oh… I really doubt the sky was blue that day (really it was darkened beyond belief to complete darkness) but wow the BLUE in that painting was so seemingly Divine… I noticed! Surely that is why it is painted that way – to notice. Here was me trying to hide being noticed and instead I was noticing something more colorful.

The altar had the last supper imagery and it was flanked in purple, royal purple color like the robes of the priests. So noticeable. The music sweet and the message so pertaining – that we are not to be giving up anything in fast unless it really is done in a life-changing way – that the focus we get from the Lord is manifested into improving or righting a wrong activity or situation – like go make amends with family members – don’t simply state you are going to have meatless pizza on Friday – do something that means something – pray for strengthening that God can give – and use that for improvement. It is not so much sacrifice as it is repentance for something wrong. He also stated that we do not get ashes on our foreheads to be recognized for doing so – we should get the ashes to remember to repent – to be acknowledging our dust – our finite time in this world – our time was short and so we best repent for our sins and make amends if we can, remembering that Jesus will take us the rest of the way.

Repentance was the theme – that is what was said at the disposition of ashes – to have us repent of our sins – be sorry and be blessed that Jesus WANTS to take our sins away – be willing to give Him that opportunity – today.

I had also come to the catholic church building to see their stations of the cross – those are my childhood flashback of devotion – I could understand then just as now the need to ponder at all these steps of Jesus – and even though I know some are not quite biblically accurate – I knew that their meaning was real and intentional and instructional.  I especially loved the wood carvings – but they then were shutting the lights off – half way thru my walk around – so I quickly snapped photos and got out of the sanctuary as they locked the door – actually they locked me in even though they saw me and I had said something – and the one priest must have seen my shadow and told the older man that I was trying to get out that door – there was NO LINGERING after this 45 minute service – so quick – so no one lingered or seemingly wanted to linger more than the 10 minutes – except that one kid behind me who fell asleep at the very beginning – totally completely dog-tired asleep at the railing – his grandma moved him to at least sleep on the pew but oh how I wished I had a photo of that 5 year old – with a hat on – face like an angel – totally asleep in peace – zonked out. He wouldn’t wake for the end – and his grandpa was on crutches and not able to carry him out – so they had to wake him – tough…  But I was so grateful to have had that family behind me because Grandma was instructing the older grandson on “this is where we say this” – and “this is where we stand” – and “this is the song book number” – I say THANK GOD for grandparents who raise their kids in faith – and take the time to let them sleep too…

As I had snapped those photos of the stations of the cross – I reviewed them as I sat in my car – noticing first that my online store order was ready – so convenient to swing by to pick it up – and then when I perused the photos of the stations I didn’t get to linger at – well the best little surprise struck me – a tiny little one inch Jesus doll, the resin ones, had been placed on the cross numbering system for half of the stations – so adorable…  Such a pick me up since I had been rushed in getting there – rushed out the door – rushed in not connecting hardly with anyone (because honestly people who dash in and out for a catholic service like that tend to be on their way so quickly there is no coffee hour or anything – slightly anonymous in your crazy leggings – and being locked in the door by no one doing a sweep of the room for people – but the figurines in my photos – they made me smile and pause – someone wanted someone else to notice – I did. I Knew, I Noticed, I Acknowledged, Jesus on the Journey to the Cross – and I smiled at the thoughtfulness of a child of God spirit at the figurines. 

Perhaps that is a great Lenten acknowledgement – that we need to look more – LOOK MORE – be more aware of people around us and their spiritual state. It was not that I was bent out of shape at being rushed out of the church – it was that GOD found a way to pause me. If a “random” not random bystander in the crowd could be recruited to help Jesus on the time Jesus was dragging worse than dog-tired through the streets with that heavy cross – recruited to help – then Jesus in Spirit can make us notice HIM when we are ready. All I had to do was look. Jesus knowing He wants to catch our attention… 

Thank You Jesus for Your Journey,

Amen