Ash Wednesday is meant to be a journey of repentance, taking us through the things that we struggle with and reminding us who our God is. That might not sound like the most uplifting thing at first, but it’s actually It’s something that I think is crucial for us to understand what God does for us and how He cares about us and how He’s with us.

Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day collide this year. The combination feels bizarre: a day associated with fancy meals and rich desserts has been forced to share a table with one that focuses on our failures. Yet a common thread weaves between: love.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of the season of Lent. Countless Christians around the world will receive ashes in the shape of a cross on their forehead to mark the beginning of this time of reflection and repentance. Yet, for those who do not observe the season, this can look an awful lot like legalistic rule keeping or, even worse, an attempt to receive outward praise for superficial humility.