Setting Out

26 February | Ash Wednesday 

The 800-km (500-mile) Camino de Santiago French route is a rough yet rewarding road: one less traveled by most. I remember at times walking for hours, not seeing a soul other than my husband. And maybe that made the difference. During this time and space hiking the Camino, God allowed me to experience a two-fold ephphatha: He opened my physical senses to His magnificent natural creation while also unsealing the spiritual senses of my heart—this unique unveiling gave me an opportunity to reflect upon the worst and best parts of my innermost self as well as my personal walk with Jesus. 

Today is Ash Wednesday. This day begins Lent—six weeks devoted to fasting, reflection, and almsgiving in preparation for Easter, a season celebrating Jesus Christ’s Resurrection. The ashes placed on our foreheads symbolize our physical mortality (dust-to-dust) and repentance for our sins that have separated us from God. After the Psalmist repents of his sins, he prays, “A clean heart create for me, God, / renew within me a steadfast spirit” (51:12). 
What are some ways we can design our Lenten plans to acknowledge our sins and renew our hearts and minds in order to grow closer to Christ and to each other? 

*The image above is the stone Braelyn found in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The tradition is to choose a stone at the outset of the journey and carry it until Cruz de Ferro. There the pilgrim places it on a massive pile surrounding a cross. People leave notes, tokens, photos, and many other things representing their reasons for doing the Camino. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26*