It has been almost a year since I last posted, and life has been busy. I have lately found myself writing more on my dissertation than my old blog. With the dissertation almost done, I hope to have more time for blogging.

I will write a post to bridge time at some point, but for now, I want to return to my blog to do my regular Lenten tradition – blogging about my Lenten journey. This year, my goal is to blog for each day during lent.

Lent is my favorite time of the year. For me, it is a time of self-examination, self-betterment, and improvement. And through my faith, I believe that it is a time to redevelop and, to a point, reexamine the relationship I have with God.

Ash Wednesday, tomorrow, we will find ourselves at the starting line for 40 days of self-examination and self-renewal. Like when I run long-distance races, I know I will have to pace for the next 40 days, for there are so many things I want to work on… finishing the dissertation, health, weight loss, home projects & organization, work projects, and simply enjoying life.

Tomorrow is also a day of truth. First, a day of committing myself to self-discovery and improvement. Then, I have a couple of doctor’s appointments that hopefully shed some light on health issues. The first appointment is with the orthopedic doc to determine why kneeling and bending my knee is extremely painful. Then, I have an appointment with the allergist to continue dissecting my long-term sinus issues. I have a feeling that both will play into this Lenten journey.

As I prepare for tomorrow’s journey, I think about the symbolism of the dust of Ash Wednesday. The dust reminds us that life is more significant than our individual experiences and that we are not in control. Being broken means that healing is needed. Healing can be transformative. It means that you can put the pieces back together in a better way. I remember the saying from when I was a kid: get back up, dust yourself off, and try again. So tomorrow marks me getting up and dusting myself off to better myself and strengthen my relationship with God. When I think about the start of Lent, Ash Wednesday, and the associated symbolism, I begin to see that tomorrow is about life and what it means to be a human. Being human means being both blessed and broken. Tomorrow is our special invitation for the next 40 days to look at our own brokenness in a way that can give us strength and courage and, overall, to become a better person.