We don't even know.....

"We don't even know what our sin is."

I had brought ashes to this wise woman whose spiritual presence calms and strengthens me.  We talked about the ritual of ashes on Ash Wednesday and how Lent begins with a good, comprehensive confession.  Then she said,

"When I think about it, I think we don't even know what our sin is."

We don't, of course, because we cannot see all the harm we have done to others: the snarky comment, the impatient sigh, the offhanded criticism. Add to that the good that we failed to do.

I know that all of this is covered in the official, traditional confession, but it was such a powerful statement from a gentle, loving, diligent person of faith that it caught me up short.

"We don't even know what our sin is." 

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.