An Ash Wednesday Attitude

How should we approach the season of Lent in general and the observance of Ash Wednesday in particular? Is it meant to be a time in which we declare our unworthiness and desperate dependence upon the mercy of God? Or is it a time to deliberately evaluate how we are doing as ones who are identified as followers of Christ Jesus? The medieval influence of our liturgy tends to lead us to the first attitude and, coupled with Psalm 51, we often feel like we're supposed to take a posture akin to grovelling in order to show the Lord how ready we are to make things right. But a closer look at Psalm 51 can bring us to a different conclusion, one that will still make Ash Wednesday a valuable service in which to participate.