One of those symbols that has caught my attention this year is the nail used at Jesus' crucifixion. It reminds me of a story of a young boy who told his dad that he was very angry at someone. With that, the dad gave the young son a handful of big spike nails and told him to go out and pound them into a rail fence in the yard. After finishing, the boy proudly came back and told his dad that he had completed this task.
The next step: the boy's dad then had his son go and remove the spikes. Proud again, the son returned to say he had completed this task! The dad had a lesson to share. When he told his son to go and see the hole that was left from pounding that nail in, he pointed out that, yes, the nail was removed but the hole remained, just like the harm that remains after our words, actions or misdeeds toward another person.
This Lenten season gives me pause to reflect on my offenses, those "nails" in my life that have separated me from God's love, from giving love to others and receiving love from others. In our darkest days we are not alone. Each of us could use a nail to remind us that God's love is always there for us helping to sustain us on our journey. Ash Wednesday begins this journey of lent for many Christians, today, 2/18/15.
