We’re taught by our parents as Christian children not to “hate” anyone or anything in any way, shape or form. As Christians we don’t even like the word “hate” and sometimes correct our children from using the term. So it’s difficult, even though it makes perfect sense in this case, to start out our Lent saying that we “hate” something...and yet, in this instance, we must. We must hate evil. And we must because the Lord does. The Lord abhors evil and as the Psalmist writes it for us in Psalm 5 “evil may not dwell” with Him. As we celebrate Ash Wednesday we do so with the reminder that hating evil is the Lord’s will in our lives and is one piece in the beautiful tapestry of the Christian life!