Ash Wednesday, Lent, and a Pastor who never grew up with it...

ASH WEDNESDAY, LENT & A PASTOR WHO NEVER GREW UP WITH IT

Today is Ash Wednesday—the beginning of the season of Lent.
I didn’t grow up with this tradition. I never attended an Ash Wednesday service. No one ever spoke about Lent in the churches I was a part of. It just wasn’t something we practiced. And to be honest, for much of my life, I didn’t think twice about it. It wasn’t something I saw as necessary, and maybe even something I assumed was just another ritual people did without much meaning.

But the older I get, the more I realize how easy it is to assume things about the practices of others, especially in faith. When we grow up inside certain circles, those beliefs and rhythms feel like the way to follow Jesus, not just a way to follow Him. And sometimes, without even realizing it, we let those differences shape our assumptions about each other.

But I see things differently now.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day season leading up to Easter. The name comes from the practice of placing ashes on the forehead in the shape of a cross, a symbol of repentance and a reminder that life is temporary: “For you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). The ashes themselves come from palm branches that were used in last year’s Palm Sunday services—now burned as a reminder that human praise fades, but God’s kingdom remains.

Lent is a season of reflection, repentance, and preparation. It mirrors the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, fasting and praying before beginning His public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11). It’s a time when many choose to lay something down—not as a rule, not as a way to earn God’s favor, but as a way to make space for Him.

And maybe that’s something we could all benefit from.

Maybe we don’t need ashes on our foreheads to remember we are dust. Maybe we don’t need to give up coffee or sugar or social media to love Jesus more. But what if there is something in our lives that’s distracting us from Him? What if setting something aside—even for a short time—helped us focus on the depth of what Jesus has done for us?

Lent isn’t commanded in Scripture. You don’t have to participate. But if you do, let it be about more than tradition. Let it be about Jesus.

So whether today is significant to you or not, my encouragement is the same: Take these next weeks to slow down. Reflect. Repent. Remember. Draw near to the Savior who went to the cross for you.

Easter is coming. But let’s not rush past the journey to get there.

#AshWednesday #Lent #JesusAboveAll