2.25.2009

There is something mysterious about ashes.

Today is Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday many churches around the world hold services to mark this special day. Today marks the beginning of the season of Lent.

To be honest, Lent has historically been my least favorite 'season' of the church year. I struggle with what I have previously perceived to be the darkness and gloom of where these days lead which is the cross. However, last year I sort of came around to the idea of Lent and started to find some grace and mystery in it. More accurately, I found grace and mystery among the people that I was worshipping with and learning from down in southern IL on internship. Then today, BAM! Another surprise: I think I might actually like Lent. I am fully intrigued with the journey of these 40 days.

The service at seminary today was reflective and great. I got ashes on my forehead while the assistant spoke those humbling-beyond-description words, "From ashes you came and to ashes you will return."

Then in my Constructive Theology class we watched a clip from "Children of Men." It was a clip from the end of the movie where this miracle baby has been born and all the people (who are basically in the middle of a chaotic hell of a world) are reaching out just get a look or touch of this baby representing all the hope of the whole world.

And so I've really been thinking about Jesus a lot today. And the mysteries of things like: hope, perseverance, and a God who dwells and suffers and rejoices among us.

I have no idea where the next 40 days are going to lead. I would imagine that exciting, bizarre, terrifying, and amazing things are ahead for all of us. Regardless of where these days lead in our individual lives, I hope we will all carve out time in our daily lives to relish in the mystery and wonder that surrounds us on a minute-by-minute basis.

And one more thing I learned today: never underestimate the mysterious power of ashes.


Here's my CE project: A collage/painting/drawing.

2 comments:

  1. We saw VP Biden on the news Wednesday night and Becky said, "What's on his forehead?" I said, "It's Ash Wednesday, Beck..."

    -A lapsed Catholic

    miss you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. We saw VP Biden on the news Wednesday night and Becky said, "What's on his forehead?" I said, "It's Ash Wednesday, Beck..."

    -A lapsed Catholic

    miss you!

    ReplyDelete