Circuit Thoughts

Today for me is Ash Wednesday. Lent has started and we are 40 +/- days away from Easter. If you want to do some scriptural exploration that helps out understanding lent then look to Joel 3:1-2, 12-17, 2nd Corinthians 5:20-6:10, and Matthew 6:1-21. These scriptures will help in understanding Lent and Ash Wednesday.

But for me, I just want to share my thoughts on Ash Wednesday. Let me start off by saying, not every church or believer practices Ash Wednesday. In fact, it really isn’t in the Bible, but the premise is. Ashes are a sign of contrition and sorrow. In the Old Testament, we see Job sit in ashes, David does this also, Mordecai fasts and mourns the fate of his people. The prophets all practice ashes and sack cloth for mourning.

In the church, many wear ashes to start off the Lenten season. They will wear the ashes to confirm their sinful nature and the validation of their own mortality. In fact, one of the phrases we say as we “impose” the ashes on the forehead is “from dust your were created and to dust you will return”. So, ashes are a symbol of our mortality. The fact that we start off the season before Easter with wearing ashes is our appreciation for what God has done through His son Jesus Christ.

And that is where my understanding of the practice takes root. I wear the ashes, not to prove I am more humble, nor to make a religious statement. I wear the ashes because I am in mourning about the reason Jesus died on the cross.

The very fact that our salvation could only come through the blood of Jesus Christ, breaks my heart. We were created better than that. We were made in the image of God. We are a product of a loving creator. We were created out of love. And yet, our creator had to come down and die so we may be saved.

Why? Why do we seek to harm others? Why are we always at war? Why can we not see God’s image in the person next to us? Why do we not try to help instead of causing hurt?

I watch so called “Christians” scream and yell at those with whom they disagree. I have watched the church use the Bible as a blunt instrument to make people go the “right” way. I have seen hatred and anger from people who are supposed to be about love and acceptance. I mourn the meltdown of our main line churches and the harm they have caused over the years. I wear ashes because I mourn.

And yet, I wear ashes in hope. Who else but God can take a pile of ashes, form them up, breathe into them a create life? So in the wearing of ashes, I mourn, but I also see hope. I mourn that Christ died, yet I rejoice that Christ looked at this pitiful pile of ashes and deemed me worthy of his love.

That’s my take.

Shalom my friends.

See you in church.