This year Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day were on the same day. The last time that happened was 2018.

The juxtaposition of those two events are odd enough, but throw in this: In 2018 there was the mass shooting at Parkland High School in Florida. This year there was a mass shooting at the end of the victory celebration for the Kansas City Chiefs where thousands of people had gathered.

We are never afforded “clean” storylines in our lives. It is mixed up with tragedy and triumph, celebration and deep reflection, and sometimes all in the same day. Life deals us all kinds of events and we walk through them. I am glad I walk with the Lord. He helps with my perspective, my prayer, my ability to cope, all of it.

There is a clash of kingdom cultures on days like Ash Wednesday. The culture of the Kingdom calling us to repentance and to look with anticipation toward resurrection is in front of us. The culture of violence embedded in our national DNA also calls to us. It has been heightened once again in our lifetime.

Lent is a time to look inward and do some “structural work” within. We are not a very reflective culture. Quiet tends to bother us. If we look in… what will we find? So, we keep the noise going.

Let the culture of Kingdom weigh in on your life this season. Reflect. Don’t be afraid of what you might find looking inward. The grace of the Lord is there to heal and restore. He doesn’t ask us to look inward to beat us up. He asks to self-examine so healing can flow.

We are a nation in need of healing. It’s start with each one of us.