Beginning with Ashes

In the Christian calendar, the season we call Lent begins with Ashes.

This past Wednesday, throughout the world many Christians heard the words "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" as they were marked with the sign of the cross on their forehead with ashes (even in the midst of a pandemic, this tradition continued in many creative ways). These ashes are to serve as a reminder of human frailty and brokenness, of the many reasons we have for lament and the ways in which we have failed one another, of the weight of our grief and the depth of our sorrow. These ashes mark not only our bodies but also the beginning of a 40-day journey called Lent. For those who make this journey, it will lead us into the complexity of what it means to be human, the struggle of life itself, the challenge of faith, and the promised presence of God throughout it all.

After a year of immeasurable loss, physical distance from those we love, fear of a virus we cannot see, and anxiety over what might be next, the ashes and this journey may be more poignant than ever.

I know I need the ashes.
I need these 40 days.
I need to remember the promise that the God of passionate presence is with me here and now in the midst of this journey.
I need to be reminded that I am dust, and to dust I shall return.
I need to hear once again that in life and in death and in life beyond death, I belong to God.
Friend, you are the beloved, and nothing can ever change that.

And it all begins with ashes.

If you didn't receive ashes this Ash Wednesday and would like to participate in a similar activity check out these ideas developed by Tom Markey - click here.

May you never forget that you are created out of Original Blessing. May you always remember that God is present. May you always be surrounded by Love. May the words "remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" be words of hope full of promise. Peace to you. Amen.

Curiosity.

Curiosity. “There the angel of the Lord appeared to [Moses] in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight and see why the bush is not burned up.” (Exodus 3:2-3) What are you currently feeling curious about? When in your life have you experienced the need to “turn aside” and see what is happening? Have you ever had a “burning bush” moment in your life?

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Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 We are called to hope. If you're anything like me, the last months have taken their best shot at your ability to hope. Between sickness, uncertainty, fear of what we don't understand, anxiety over what we can't control, conflicting expectations and uncomfortable recommendations, 2020 has not exactly been conducive to being hopeful. Here we are, months into what every retailer sending emails on Black Friday will once again call "unprecedented times", and so much of our outlook on daily life has been upended. Many of us have had to change and adjust much of our lives in just this past 24 hours, much less the last week or month. No matter how much sleep we get, we somehow still always wake up a bit too tired. Even though we just ate an hour ago, we somehow need another snack or meal already. The activities that we relied upon for rest, relaxation, a...

Knowing Who You Are

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