Today is Ash Wednesday in the Christian church year. It is the start of Lent, and the day to pause and think about our own mortality. Grim. But also not – because as Christians we know that physical death is not the end. Jesus rose on the third day and conquered death, and gave us the hope of eternal life. Heaven. It’s still a big mystery, heaven, because nobody gets there ‘alive’ – but it’s the promise that is waiting for us all, of a resurrection with God and with loved ones.
So ashes are put on foreheads today to symbolize “dust to dust” – that we go back to dust when our days end here. Our physical bodies will go away. But the ashes are purposely marked on the forehead in the sign of the cross to remind us that Jesus died too – and then He rose, and that He changed the world, and He told of the life to come.
Ash Wednesday is a day about grace. We don’t earn this salvation. We don’t have to ‘work’ towards getting into heaven. God doesn’t make us pass a test. Thank goodness (cuz we all would fail.). We just have to learn – through the Word, and then take it into our hearts, and believe. You need to ‘have faith’ and keep on keeping on. Let the Word transform and be an example for others.
Today I sit here and think about the Ukrainians and their bravery. They are determined, and they have faith in a good outcome for their country. We don’t know what will happen yet. Truly – they have got to be scared (to death) but yet they keep the faith. They are such an example of knowing that life on earth is fleeting as they fight for good over evil. They are standing up for what is right. They are representing us all. They pray for a peaceful outcome – and we pray along with them, and for them. God hears all prayers. But sometimes I think God wants us to pray to hear ourselves – to take time to say “what can I do” to really release someone’s pain, or to help the innocent, to speak truth, and find justice, and to feel this need to do something – to do anything that might be a positive change. We have to be responders. We have to pray and then “do.”
Usually on Ash Wednesday many Christians give up something for Lent. In recent years it has also become popular to add something in to daily life – and really, that makes more sense. Adding is action. Adding is doing.
The Putin aggression in to Ukraine is one big sign of evil in this world. One man doing so much destruction. I’m not always sure how I feel about ‘the devil,’ because I don’t think Putin gets off the hook for the fear, the pain, and the death he is causing. The devil did not make him do it. I believe in free will. I believe in psychological disorders, and ‘sick minds’ – and some people born just unable to have empathy and to feel love for others. Why? I don’t know. But there will continue to be sick and dangerous people in this world.
So, we pray for Ukraine – but we must act too. Good will prevail.
Dust will settle. And – May the dust on foreheads today remind us that God offers the love, and peace, and unity we all need.
Marla’s Musings 