Ashes and Authenticity

🕯 Mini Episode 2

Ashes and Authenticity: A Holy Mess Called Lent

“God does not require great deeds, but only heartfelt desire.”
— St. John Vianney

Lent begins today — and if you’re already tired, overwhelmed, or feeling behind before it’s even started, this mini episode is for you.

In this Ash Wednesday reflection, Kristen gently reframes Lent as an invitation to honesty rather than performance. This episode is a reminder that God isn’t grading your penances, your prayer plan, or the neatness of the ashes on your forehead. He’s looking at your heart.

Through reflections on Jesus in the desert, the meaning of the ashes we receive today, and the quiet pressure many of us feel to “do Lent right,” this episode offers permission to begin again — imperfectly, realistically, and with trust.

This isn’t a call to try harder.
It’s an invitation to show up honestly.

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🪵 In this mini episode, we talk about:
    •    Why Lent isn’t a spiritual competition
    •    Letting go of performative holiness
    •    What the ashes really signify
    •    Why God meets us in weakness, not perfection
    •    Starting Lent without a perfect plan — and why that’s okay

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🌿 Key takeaway:

Lent isn’t about being impressive.
It’s about being honest.

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🙏 Closing Prayer:

Lord, I offer You my ashes — the tired places, the failures, the restarts.
Burn away what doesn’t belong to You.
Breathe new life into what does.
And when Easter comes, let my heart rise with You — honest, humbled, and whole.
Amen.

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🪓 Your Turn to Chop:

As you move through today, sit with this one question:

Where am I being invited to show up honestly this Lent instead of impressively?

Let that be enough.

If you’d like to go deeper, you’ll find more reflection questions below.

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💭 Reflection Questions:
    •    What expectations do I usually place on myself during Lent? How could I simplify them this year?
    •    Where is God inviting me to be more authentic — not impressive, just honest?
    •    What’s one small, realistic way I can make space for Him this Lent?

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🎧 Up next:
Join me on Monday for the full episode, Saints, Schedules, and Sanctity, where we’ll talk about what it looks like to invite God into your Google Calendar — and into the real pace of your life.

Until then —
keep choppin’ wood. 🪵