“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Today millions of followers of Jesus will—or have already—said these words. It’s Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the season of Lent. Historically, the church has recognized this season as a time for self-examination and repentance; prayer, fasting, and alms-giving; and meditating on God’s holy Word… all in preparation to bring us to Easter and the glorious reminder of Christ’s resurrection and victory over sin and death and his promise that in time all will be made new.

Of course, repentance, prayer, Scripture meditation, and caring for the poor are all callings that are part of our Christian walk, regardless of the day on the calendar. Sometimes, however, a set time to pay specific—or renewed—attention to one of these areas can shine light on places we’ve perhaps become too familiar with (such as prayer and Scripture reading) or too hardened to (the call to repentance and sacrificial living, to truly see all with the eyes of Jesus’ love, to welcome the stranger and the poor).

At the same time, if we view this season as a time of striving or earning, of adding things to do and boxes to check, we’ve missed the point. Ultimately our practices, if ordered rightly, lead us into the loving arms of Jesus and our utter dependence on him, as well as our increasing—however minutely, however incrementally—likeness to him. In all things there is grace, and certainly as something not specifically ordained or commanded by Jesus, there is no requirement to observe Lent.

More and more I find myself leaning into the in-between seasons, these spaces of preparation and waiting, the time before the celebration and feast. I love Advent. I love Lent. Without such times, jumping straight into “yay!” and “hallelujah!” can feel discordant with our actual experience in this broken world. One does not have to observe Lent to observe such a time, to intentionally slow down, to wait, to acknowledge one’s dependence for all on the Lord who loves us more than any other could. But the invitation is there in this season of the church year as we consider Jesus’ time on this earth and await for his return.

Whether you’re observing Lent or not, I’d love to hear from you! Do you have a practice, a favorite reading, a piece of art or a song, that you’re engaging with? To share, just hit reply if you’re reading this in our email newsletter, or click here.

I always have stacks of books around, and ambitions greater than time allows, but I have narrowed my options down to two books for the season. On my own I’ll be going through Wardrobes and Rings: Through Lenten Lands with the Inklings by Julia Golding, Malcolm Guite, and Simon Horobin. Each reflection draws on literary works and themes in various writings from the Inklings, paired with a Scripture reading and reflection questions. I’m looking forward to this one!

With some friends (with thanks to one of them for the introduction!), I’ll be walking through Godspeed Pilgrim: 40 Days Replanting in the Trinity by Matt Canlis. I expect this to challenge me in how I engage with the place I find myself in and how I interact with my neighbors (even if I don’t live in a traditional parish structure). Even if this book is not one you pick up, I encourage you to take the time to watch the short film, Godspeed: The Pace of Being Known.

I leave you with a prayer and a poem for contemplation, as well as some additional resources below. Blessings on your walk to Easter, and please send me an email at any time if you’d like to share about your own journey!

From the Ash Wednesday liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer (2019):

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

From Jan Richardson, a blessing for Ash Wednesday:

“Blessing the Dust”

All those days
you felt like dust,
like dirt,
as if all you had to do
was turn your face
toward the wind
and be scattered
to the four corners

or swept away
by the smallest breath
as insubstantial—

Did you not know
what the Holy One
can do with dust?

This is the day
we freely say
we are scorched.

This is the hour
we are marked
by what has made it
through the burning.

This is the moment
we ask for the blessing
that lives within
the ancient ashes,
that makes its home
inside the soil of
this sacred earth.

So let us be marked
not for sorrow.
And let us be marked
not for shame.
Let us be marked
not for false humility
or for thinking
we are less
than we are

but for claiming
what God can do
within the dust,
within the dirt,
within the stuff
of which the world
is made,
and the stars that blaze
in our bones,
and the galaxies that spiral
inside the smudge
we bear.

More Resources

Reflections from Coracle:

On the theme of Lent in the Coracle Journal

Three 2026 Lenten offerings from Coracle:

An American Lament: Join us online, Thursday evenings, February 19-April 9

Friendship with God: Join us online this Saturday, February 21, for a three-hour retreat led by Amy Boucher Pye

Lenten Contemplative Writing Group: Join us online, Tuesday evenings, February 24-March 24

Books:

Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter compiled by Plough. “Ninety-six daily reflections for Lent and Eastertide plumb the depths of a wealth of Christian traditions.”

Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal by Esau McCaulley. “Esau McCaulley introduces the season of Lent, showing us how its prayers and rituals point us not just to our own sinfulness but also beyond it to our merciful Savior.”

From Wilderness to Glory: Lent and Easter for Everyone by N.T. Wright. “Think, pray, and reflect through the stories of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.”

The Living Cross by Amy Boucher Pye. “A journey from Ash Wednesday to Easter Day as we engage with daily reflections and prayers to experience the living power of the cross of Christ through biblical and modern-day stories of wrongdoing and forgiveness.”

Multimedia:

Prayers of Jesus course led by Amy Boucher Pye (a video series).

“Growth Starts at the Cross” with Bette Dickinson (a visio divina practice). More here about her series, Seeds of Hope.

A Lenten Meditation on the Gospel of Mark: The Servant King We Long to Know! from Biola University (a devotional project, with daily readings, art, and music)

And a little musical PS:

While I’ve been writing this, I’ve been listening to Lent at Ephesus.