ASH WEDNESDAY
Scripture: James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Thought for the Day: Criss Jami is a very interesting voice out there these days – an author and poet that leaves a few folks scratching their heads. The following is a thought of his that I have enjoyed reading each day for the last week as a way of preparing for Lent.
To share your weakness is to make yourself vulnerable; to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength.
~Criss Jami
After keynoting a Men’s Retreat a few weeks back, I have heard from a half dozen or so of the participants who are seeking a deeper conversation on vulnerability as a strength. In our culture, this is considered nonsense and dangerous. Vulnerability is what others look to exploit, and so we spend our lives building a facade to hide those vulnerabilities. In time, this facade can feel pretty normal, like wearing a comfortable pair of jeans. Yet think about it for a minute – you are wearing a facade that requires your energy, time and thought every single day. You are wasting your life away by creating and maintaining a false sense of who you are. Putting the vulnerabilities out for all to see will entice a few folks to exploit them…or at least try. But when you are not wasting your energy on creating and maintaining the false-self, you will find strength in vulnerability.
Prayer: A bit nervous…even a bit anxious, yet I know you are the One who lived a life of vulnerability and love through Jesus. O Spirit of Creation, continue to work within me so that the me that you created is not hiding behind a false sense of me that I created. Amen.
Today Is Ash Wednesday
Ashes in the Chapel
7-9am & 11am-1pm
Pancake Dinner in the Gym
5:30-6:30pm
Ash Wednesday Service
6:45pm in the Centrum
