FCS-Ian had printed out the February+March daily lectionary \o/ Ash Wednesday has a multiplicity of options, so I flipped through The Inclusive Bible while we sat quietly before service and decided on:
Isaiah 58:1-12
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
I saw a Tweet yesterday (which I failed to save and was unsuccessful in finding today) asking about wiping the ashes off one's forehead after the service -- is it the wearing or the imposing that's important? I was inclined to agree with what I felt was the implicit "preferred" answer -- that it was about the imposing (esp. given the readings about not showing off one's religiosity). But today I was very conscious that I was wearing ashes on my forehead, and there was something powerful about that -- a reminder to myself ... idk of what exactly, but it was a wall between me and certain sinnings.
My beautiful ash cross lasted all day, so I asked for a blessing from Jeff M. at service tonight. He called me "sister" (hi,
At the SCBC labyrinth, various people said it was good to see me and they missed me -- which was sweet. (Since Sunday morning Adult Ed dissolved, I don't have occasion to see any of them.) I was in the mood for a meditative experience (I walked the labyrinth twice and did some art -- and then soon after Adrienne put music on I headed out to walk around outside some before FCS' evening service) so I didn't engage people in conversation much, which I sort of felt like I should feel bad about, but...
***
-
"Sin is necessary, but all will be well, and all will be well, and every kind of thing will be well."Good things about today:
-Julian of Norwich, Showings
- [redacted, v.2]
- upped my strength training workout like I'd intended to
- I think I stayed on top of all my work stuff reasonably well (it was a quiet day, which can be dangerous in that way).
- made appropriate notes to myself for stuff that needs doing tomorrow
- fulfilled my roles in all 3 Lenten services
["anything that you're looking forward to, that means you're facing tomorrow with joy, not trepidation," as Ari says]