Ash Wednesday is a time to remember our essence. When something is burned, it turns to ash. Only the most basic essence remains. Lent it a time to return our lives to our essence as human beings created to embody divine love. That is our essence. So Lent is a time to clear away all that detracts and distracts from that essence. It is a time to purify and clarify.
Ashes are used to fertilize the ground for planting. They are used for cleaning. They are used to foster growth and clarity. Ashes are also the “stuff” of the earth. They remind us that we are part of the very “stuff” of creation, just like the dirt, and the air, and the rocks, and the trees. When a tree burns, you get ash. When a building burns, you get ash. When a person burns, you get ash. All of it is the stuff of creation. The miracle is that we are here, having this experience we call life, as opposed to not being here, not existing, not having been created.
This is a season to return to our essence. And in that process, we will find ourselves freed of the many things that distract us from our full experience as human beings created to embody divine love. This season, we will use the Psalms as a window to explore how our faith frees us from all that would diminish our experience of full and abundant life. Look for a posting each day and feel free to add your responses and reflections!
Lakewood United Church of Christ 