Did you get yours?

My family attended Ash Wednesday service this evening at Anglican Church of the Resurrection.  It was a quiet service primarily of Scripture, recitation and prayer.  Fr. David Alenskis offered a poignant sermon about the collective responsibility of the body of Christ to be vigilant protecting one another from the snares of sin and Fr. Eric Menees applied ashes with the words, "From dust you came, and to dust shall you return."  Very sobering and yet moving.  On the verge of a season of penitence, prayer and fasting, those words also reminded me how short life is and the need to make the most of the time God gives us not for our own self-glorification or working down a "bucket list" agenda but serving our King and His Kingdom in every area we have talent and opportunity.  Many a saint in the Church triumphant never received their glorious crown of gray hair or saw fourscore years with strength because they were expending it diligently to advance the Kingdom.  I got my ashes, exhortation and marching orders.  Did you get yours?