Ash Wednesday- Filter Change Reminder?

Proud to share someone’s interesting analogy of how today, “Ash Wednesday” relates to a furnace filter reminder:

“The heating and air conditioning system in our house has 12 inch by 12 inch filters that catch all the crud, preventing it from being sucked into the HVAC unit. I’ve learned that if I hope to keep a clean filter in place, I have to put the replacement of it as a reminder on my calendar. So,every month, my lap top and phone flash this automatic message at me: “Replace HVAC Filter.” I usually look at it and think, “Already?!” Sometimes I ignore it for a few days. But that reminder is important, because it pushes me to do something I really want to do: take good care of my HVAC unit. Haunted by the nudge of the electronic reminder message, I eventually get around to doing what any conscientious homeowner should do: I tell one of my kids to climb on a chair and replace the filters. It’s always surprising to look at those loathsome filters they retrieve from our ceiling. They are disgracefully loaded with gunk. Laden with dusty fuzz. Caked with crud. (You get the idea). It’s kind of surprising -shocking, actually. I mean, it’s not like these filters have been riding on top of a smoke stack in Cleveland. They are from INSIDE our house. Where I sleep, and eat, and play Parcheesi. You would not think we were such dirty people! But when the calendar says, “Change Filter” trust me, I’ve learned that it truly needs to be done, and that it will always be dirtier than I expect.

Today is ASH WEDNESDAY, which is the spiritual equivalent of a reminder to change the filters. When it rolls around every year it brings the message, “It’s time.” When Ash Wednesday arrives maybe you’re like me and think, “Already?” Or maybe you choose to ignore it. But many sincere Christ followers recognize the season of Lent which begins today is not a cumbersome imposition, but a helpful reminder to ask for God’s help in doing some things we truly want to do.

We all are a lot like the HVAC filters. God always reveals more gunk than we realize is there. Over the next few weeks when finally ready to ask for help and get cleaned up, God will flood hearts with His grace and love. Ash Wednesday- a reminder that it’s time to let God change our filter.”