Ashes to Ashes

This Lent, I've decided that instead of the usual "giving something up," I am going to try to be pro-active in my disciplines. I know very well how to deny myself. Once I went an entire year without a taste of chocolate and I love chocolate. But discipline--ah that's a different story. I don't do well with self-discipline.

So I have decided that I will do something this Lent that will have help me increase my self-discipline and hopefully, bring some value to others. I have promised a wonderful group of women who are struggling, as I do, with needing to lose some weight that I would write a short prayer or devotion especially directed toward "weighty" issues each day of Lent.

So with that....

I know a lot of people dislike the hymn "Ashes," feeling that its lyrics are smaltzy. However, it's one of my favorite because of the second verse:

We offer you our failures,
we offer you attempts,
the gifts not fully given,
the dreams not fully dreamt.
Give our stumblings direction,
give our visions wider view,
an offering of ashes, an offering to you.

This resonates with me especially with dieting and weight. I keep failing to reach my goal. I keep attempting to stay on play. I dream about being fit and healthy, but I don't dream it fully enough to bring it to reality.

So this Lent, one more time, I am making my offering of ashes...in the hope that I will finally find that wider view.