Dusting Off and Living Lent

Dusting Off and Living Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday, and often it feels like New Year’s Day. For many the first day of a new year is when you set resolutions to improve the quality of your life through more physical exercise, exercising the brain by reading more, giving up bad habits, etc., only to find that your energy and expectations fade by March. Then Ash Wednesday arrives, and again resolutions are made. You may resolve to pray more, give up some vice (i.e. chocolate), or take on, or add to, some humanitarian project.  By week three or four of Lent, a chocolate dessert is very tempting [and delicious], the heart felt pray schedule is interrupted by work meetings, and that humanitarian project has lost its passion.

Today’s scriptures talk about disciplines for Lent; the way you give alms, praying in secret, and fasting without looking dismal. These fit a culture of years ago, but where do they fit today in the 21^st century.

What does it mean to live into Lent? It starts by listening. Listening to the words during the Imposition of Ashes that say, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” Whether you physically partake in the Imposition of Ashes or you read the words, breathe in the dust, “a cloud of finely powdered earth . . .” [from dictionary.com]. The “dust” is our prayer word, our meditating mantra, and the reminder that we are part of the earth. We are part of the ongoing re-creation of the earth. It is earth, as dirt, as human form, as animal form, or within the waters. We are co-creators with God, and the season of Lent offers us a time to be reflective upon our actions as stewards of the earth. These actions are outlined in our Baptismal Covenant.  It says: to seek and serve Christ in ALL persons, and to strive for justice and peace among ALL people, and respect the dignity of every human being [and earthly creation].

It is the disciplines of Lent such as, fasting, more praying, more “serving”, etc. that keeps us focused on our actions as co-creators. The Charlie Brown© character, Pig Pen is a visible example, although comical, of living in a cloud of dust 24/7. This means that our experience of Lent, in this definition, does not stop at the Empty Tomb, but continues and is revitalized through the ongoing Lenten seasons.

Remember that you are Dust. . . .  A Co-creator of the Earth!