Today is Ash Wednesday. Poor Ash Wednesday, such a misunderstood day on the Christian calendar. Most Protestants dismiss the day with a brusque, "That's just for Catholics isn't it?" Others scoff at the day because, "It's not mentioned in the Bible." Still others - the morose and gloomy among us - claim the day is just one more (unnecessary) reminder of, "How bad and sinful we really are."
Truth is there is no requirement to do anything on Ash Wednesday. As His children, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, all believers have perfect freedom in Christ. He died to set us free (see, for instance, Galatians 5:1, 13). But - as human beings we need reminders of the cost of that freedom, and reminders to follow hard after the One who gained that freedom for us.
That's what Ash Wednesday is for me - a reminder; a reminder of my sinfulness, a reminder of the cost of that sin, a reminder of the glorious resurrection, and a reminder of the joy to come. Personally I'm grateful for reminders like Ash Wednesday. So observe the day as you will - or ignore it, I believe at your peril. The choice, as always, is yours.
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