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In John 17, Jesus knowing that the cross is near, prays one final time...one final time he lifts his dreams upward as a prayer.  Notice what his dream for us is: He didn't pray for our success; He didn't pray for lives of comfort and safety; He didn't even pray for our happiness. The dream in the heart of Jesus was that we would be one heart. He prayed we would be one, that we would love each other... so that we could change the world.

 The first day of Lent is called Ash Wednesday. It seems a bit ironic that Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday would happen on the same day, but perhaps it sets the stage for our journey, better than we could have imagined. Ash Wednesday is a reminder of the frailty of life. It’s a reminder of the cross. Valentine’s Day is a reminder of the life that comes from love, the love that comes from the cross. So perhaps the best thing each of us could do this first day of Lent is to simply say, “Jesus here’s my heart. Guard it. Make it whole. Help me to forgive and love others as you have forgiven and love me."