Ash Wednesday reminds me where I’m going every year, and it makes me ponder where I am right now and whether I’m making the most of the time I have before me.

We work so hard to rid our homes and places we frequent of any dust we can find. But here in a countercultural moment of clarity, the Church seeks to remind us that we are the thing we wish to remove from our lives. We are made of dust.

Across Abrahamic faiths, fasting serves as a bridge — uniting believers in their pursuit of self-discipline, gratitude, and devotion. It is a shared human experience that transcends religious boundaries, emphasizing our collective yearning for spiritual growth and inner peace.

Each Friday in The Christian Citizen, we publish a Religion News Roundup with summaries of religion news stories and links for those who want to read more.

“May the Spirit of God disturb you” sounds like a bit of ire at first. Perhaps it is the word of blessing we need most.