Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day intersect this year for an epic “opposites attract” mashup. A tattoo with a dagger through the heart symbolizes sacrifice and can be a sign of devotion to Christ. (This tattoo is Justin’s from Tampa, Florida). Celebrating these two days together is the musical equivalent of the Good Friday hymn “O Sacred Head Now Wounded” meets Taylor Swift’s Today Was a Fairytale:

O Sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, now scornfully surrounded with thorns, thine only crown.  O Sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!  Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

Today was a fairytale. You were the prince
I used to be a damsel in distress
You took me by the hand, and you picked me up at six
Today was a fairytale. Can you feel this magic in the air?

Ash Wednesday, like the hymn, is usually a somber, contemplative, minor key way of starting Lent.  Reflecting on our mortality by way of soul examination and fasting, we return to relationship with God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”Joel 2:12

Then there’s Valentine’s Day, a day of love, celebrating relationship with chocolate and sweet embraces. So why not take this rare opportunity of Valentine’s Day falling on Ash Wednesday (the last coincidences were 2018 and 1945) to reflect on both the sacrifice and the love of your relationship with the Lord?  After all, Jesus is the Prince who has rescued us, not through magic, but through sacrificial love:

Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us.  When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death.” (Ephesians 5:2 Philippians 2 (MSG)

PRACTICE. Ash Wednesday Valentine’s Day Mashup. Let’s be creative in blending and reflecting on ways to express our love with purposeful soul examination and intentional space.

• Define Your Relationship. Have an honest talk with God about your willingness to deepen your connection. Set aside time to be present, to listen, to enjoy time alone, listening to praise music, and reflecting on the wonder of God’s Beauty and Grace.  Use this prayer to get the conversation started:

O Lord, I know I haven’t given you the place in my life you deserve. And I’m going to cut out some unnecessary me time and comfort to make space for morning talks, afternoon walks, and some deep conversations over your words of life and love.

• Examine Your Heart. Imagine you are sitting in a coffee shop and asking your best friend to help you see yourself through their eyes of truth and love. Ask the Spirit of God to show you where you need to say “I’m Sorry,” or make things right, or to love yourself and others better with a prayer like this:

O Lord, I know and you know that thing that is not good for me, that keeps me wrapped up in myself, and negligent in using my gifts for your kingdom good. And I celebrate the things that are deeply good for my soul, that lead me away from self-centered attachment and bring life-giving joy.

• Go on a Date. Instead of just “giving up” something for Lent, “go out” together and do good. The Word of God is clear in how we should love well: “The Lord has shown you what is good–do justice, love kindness/mercy, and walk humbly with your God. Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself.” What would doing “good” look like for you? Be intentional in your prayer of response:

O Lord, I know I spend too much time looking at screens and too much money on myself. So, I’m setting aside an evening or weekend afternoon working on that justice issue my community keeps talking about. I want to have the mind of Christ, moving away from selfishness to servant leadership, and being sacrificial in the expressions of my love, time, and possessions.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. In some faith communities, ashes are put on the forehead to remind us we are human. With each rising and setting of the sun, we face the fragility and mortality of human life. The ashes can serve as a “pride check,” a way to reflect on our need for salvation. A middle aged man named Chief was telling his community about how he had recently committed his life to Christ. The pastor asked about his unique name, “Chief” and he answered, “It is a reminder that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief!”

Another friend suggested that on this Valentine’s Ash Wednesday, we draw a heart on our foreheads with the ashes. Or you could get a tattoo!