This year, Ash Wednesday was on 2 March, marking the beginning of Lent on the Christian calendar. Its origin is from an eighth century practice of marking Christians’ foreheads with ashes. Sometimes the ashes were obtained by burning the palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday. This practice is also rooted in the Old Testament practice of using ash as a sign of penitence and mourning.

I woke up with a song in my head, not a hymn or chorus I was familiar with but a new song. I got up and started to write the verses, the chorus, and a bridge of that song. I was encouraged by what was written; it may never be shared by anyone, but it warmed my heart and refreshed my soul.