A prayer for Ash Wednesday

Be with us Lord, keep us strong as we enter into the desert of Lent. 
Our sins come forth as shadows across the landscape of our lives.
Today, we acknowledge our humanity and know that this marking of sign and symbol on our body is what calls us into further relationship with you, our God. 
We accept the mark.
             Made of earth-grown, harvested, blessed, burned, blessed, and placed on our bodies. 
Be with us as we spend the next 40 days calling to mind simplicity in our thoughts and actions. 
May all our actions, prayers, silence, and pauses call us into further relationship with you.