my pledge, on this ash wednesday

maybe we need to live each day, with the aim to forgive

those who alienate us
those who have harmed us, intentionally or unintentionally
those who have not acknowledged our "accomplishments" or "good works"
those who have forgotten our pecularities
those who have not said "I love you"

we need to engage daily with an active forgiveness
a living, breathing forgiveness
one that costs us something more
than empty "I'm sorry's"

we need to love with an open heart
we need to live each day with a willingness to give ourselves up
letting only the mercy and grace of God's embrace fill us