215 St. Barnabas on the Desert, Paradise Valley, AZ, Nikon D-80, 2-17-10Tonight, those that attended Ash Wednesday service were given the challenge to wash their sins from their past and come to the altar with a renewed spirit.
Struggling to forgive myself for so many things, I bow my head and begin to pray that though I am not worthy, I might be healed. Walking forward, I stand before the Priest and giving myself and all my sins to God; the Priest dips his thumb into a bowl of ashes, raising it towards me, he begins tracing the sign of the cross against my forehead. As I make my way back to the pew, I can feel the blackened markings upon my skin as some of the ash falls off and trickles down onto the ends of my eyelashes, I am keenly aware of my promise to choose the right. I feel sealed for good...
"Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen".
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