Ashes to Ashes - time to begin again...

Today is Ash Wednesday - the official beginning of the Lenten Season.  The word Lent comes from the latin meaning to "lengthen" - it is the beginning of the Spring season - when the days are lengthened.

Lent is a 40 day period of spiritual practice - focused on giving something up, fasting and praying.  There are actually 46 days between now and Easter, but Sundays are traditionally considered Feast Days and as such do not count as part of the 40 day practice.

I know, I know, you are thinking, "well this all sounds very Church-y" - What does any of this have to do with New Thought?

Actually... EVERYTHING!  Think about it.  What do we teach in New Thought?  "Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life."   The season of Lent is designed to do exactly that.  We begin with Ash Wed. in which the ceremony of the ashes represent the need for "repentance" - which simply means to "Re-Think." Lent is not about giving up sugar or white flour or latte's - though we all could benefit from less of those.  Lent is about giving up ways of thinking that no longer serve us, it's about entering a 40 day period of spiritual practice that seeks to remind us of who we really are, a perfect child of God.

Is there any area of your life where you could benefit from re-thinking the situation?  A relationship, health, daily routine, prayer and meditation practice, finances?  The ashes symbolize that we have had patterns of thinking and being in the past that no longer serve us - and are keeping us from our greater good.  It's time to let them go, it's time to Think Again!  

Matt: 5 13-16 

 ¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

And so Lent is a season to engage us in remembering our Divine Truth and nature.  That we are in fact a Divine Light meant to shine into the world.  So, are you ready to re-think who and what you are?  Are you ready to begin a practice of giving up the thoughts and attitudes that no longer serve your greatest good?

If your looking for a great resource to guide you - the book Keep A True Lent by Charles Fillmore is a must!

In the meantime - here's a little Lenten Humor!