Did I Miss Ash Wednesday?

Somehow, someway Ash Wednesday came and went and I did not give up anything for Lent this year. Excuse #1 No one requested an Ash Wednesday Service. Excuse #2 I did not inflict an Ash Wednesday Service upon the church. Excuse #3 I did not attend an Ash Wednesday Service.

As a matter of fact, I did not see any reminders it was Ash Wednesday nor did I see anyone with ashes on their forehead until late last night, a little before 10:00 p.m. when I tuned into the OSU vs Colorado basketball game. There on the television screen was a player from Colorado with the mark of the Ashes.

Did I miss Ash Wednesday? Forgive me for I am a sinner, but truthfully, I did not experience the feeling of missing as in "missing out" on anything. I really didn't want to give up anything for Lent this particular year. The Doctor has already limited me to just one Dr. Pepper per day, and told me to limit my chocolate intake. Furthermore, he told me to buy a Nintendo Wii and the Wii Fit and get to playing it, because I might accidentally exercise in the process.

On the other hand, I would like to give up the feeling of HECTIC pace of life. I would like to find the SERENITY I found while on Sabbatical and not wait 5 years for the next Sabbatical. So I have given myself the gift of resuming the prayer schedule the Monastics gave to me last Fall. I'm positive that a dose of daily Contemplation will help me.

So, I'm going to take up a few moments of silence and solitude three times a day during Lent. I'm fine with the monastic name for these prayer times, Morning Vigil, Midday Prayer, and Evening Vespers. So if you see me walking down the street or out around the church, simply know that I'm not just walking for exercise, but I've decided to take a prayer walk.

With a song in my Heart,
SoulSongWriter