Anti-Glitter Ash Wednesday

"WE WILL BE SEEN

Glitter is like love. It’s irresistible and irrepressible.

WE WILL TELL THE TRUTH

Ashes are a statement that death and suffering are real.
Glitter is a sign of our hope, which does not despair.
Glitter signals our promise to repent, to show up, to witness, to work.
Glitter never gives up -- and neither do we."

(http://parity.nyc/glitter-ash-wednesday)

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This is the opening part of the website linked above. It's a new thing started this year on Ash Wednesday (today) to show support to the LGBT community. And I feel it's completely wrong.

Don't mistake that statement to mean that I don't support the LGBT community. I have no issue with anyone's sexual orientation (as long as they aren't pedophiles). But I do have an issue with the message on this particular day.

Ash Wednesday, and the season of Lent as a whole, are not about us being seen and noticed. Yes, we do put ashes on the forehead. Yes, this is an outward sign to others. But for me, it has always been a simple reminder to myself that I am broken. I am a sinner. I really should be cast into the pit of hell for eternity. Or, at the very least, when I die and turn to dust, I should simply remain as dust.

It is only through the grace and love of God... through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which we celebrate in 6 weeks... that we do not remain as dust.

Yes. Death and suffering are real. But we're not focusing on our own death and suffering at this time of the year. We're supposed to focus on the fact that we deserve that death and suffering. I know I do. And while I know you do as well, that's not the point. I'm not supposed to be spending this time of year focusing on the sins of others. I'm focusing on my own. I am a sinner. I sin daily. Probably hourly. Sometimes probably more. I would be nothing without God.

Glitter is not a sign of love. It is not a sign of hope. The cross alone is. The cross on the forehead, made from ASH reminds us individually... internally... in our own hearts... that we are nothing without God, other than dust. The cross, and the fact that it does mean we're nothing but ash without that cross, is what brings us to repentance and forgiveness.

Glitter is nothing but a "look at me! I'm making a stand for injustice!" Ash Wednesday, and all of Lent, is not about that. Yes, fighting injustice is a great thing. It is something we're called to do. But this is a season of looking inwards at our own brokenness and sinfulness, and using the time to focus on God and asking God to be there with us. It's a time to grow closer to God. It's a time to focus on our own temptations and seeking the strength and wisdom of God to recognize those temptations and push past them. It's a very internal journey... one between self and God. It's one about a journey to grow in faith, through the grace and mercy of God.

It has nothing to do with glitter, or our own self-worth, or any agenda.

"Glitter never gives up - and neither do we."

Yes, we do. We constantly give up on God. Glitter doesn't change that. Glitter focuses on self and self interest and selfishness. Today, and every day, I am going to do the best I can - which can only be attempted with the grace and mercy and forgiveness of Christ - to take my focus off the glitter, and place that focus where it belongs... on God.

Peace be to all of you today, and every day.

Infinite Love

While speaking with a great and trusted friend today, I asked him to explain the meaning and purpose of Ash Wednesday. Part of his response stuck with me throughout the day:

“It is a time recognize that we are not the ones who can do the work, but rather are the ones upon whom the work is done. We remember that we are finite and rely upon the infinite love of God for our very survival.”

When I read these words from him, my mind did not go to the concept of “you are dust and to dust you shall return” (Gen 3:19). Instead, I immediately thought of the frailty of human relationships. I immediately thought of the strongest relationships I have had in my life, and the difference those relationships have made in my life and in my relationship with God.

The best friends I have had are ones which have Christ in the center of them. These friendships were not always perfect, and are not always perfect. There has been anger and jealousy and temptations and a myriad of other problems. And yet by having Christ in the center of them – by believing in God’s infinite love, grace, and mercy – the ability to overcome these obstacles became not only easier, but an important necessity. With God living within the combined soul of these relationships, the desire to heal that entwined soul becomes a desired requirement.

By having Christ in the center of them – by being enveloped in God’s infinite love, grace, and mercy – these relationships are no longer finite and frail. They become infinite, immeasurable and unconditional.  By this love being embraced by God’s unending grace and mercy, we are able to pray with and for each other. We are able to forgive. We are strengthened in our abilities to resist all sorts of temptations, and to seek and receive forgiveness when we are unable to resist.

By having Christ in the center of our relationships – by allowing God’s infinite love, grace, and mercy to work within us – we are able to teach and learn from one another. We are able to hear someone say “you are worthy” or “you are a beloved child of God” or “you are forgiven” and believe these words not only in that moment, but forever. The words stick (even though we may temporarily forget them or disbelieve them). The lessons stick. And we have the ability within ourselves, through God, to be able to give these same messages to others, bringing others the comfort and love and the belief in forgiveness that they need to hear and understand and have stay in their souls.

By having Christ in the center of our relationships and our lives – by the truth of God’s infinite love, grace, and mercy – we are blessed with the ability to move beyond our finite existence into one of resurrection and infinite love that surpasses “from dust you were formed and to dust you shall return.”

Thank you God for the blessing of your infinite love, and for the grace and mercy you give to me. Thank you for those whom you put in my life to teach me of your infinite blessings; and for being in the center of their souls and their teaching. Thank you for placing me in the lives of those who need to hear of your infinite blessings, and for being in the center of my soul. Thank you for the friendships which are based on your infinite love, grace and mercy – for being ever-present in the midst of these friendships. Please continue to be ever-present in all of my relationships, strengthening and blessing these relationships so we may each continue to grow.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our savior and Lord – the one you sent to die and be resurrected for the forgiveness of our sins, because of your infinite love, grace, and mercy for us,

Amen

Coffee and Ashes

I remember when my parents would head off to parent-teacher conferences. Even though I was fairly certain I hadn't done anything all that horrible, and that my grades were fairly good (except for in 5th grade... that was a bad year), I would still be worried. All it took was one bad comment about me... or even one bad comment about one of my siblings... to make the parents' wrath fall upon us all.

So, we'd play and horse around until we looked at the clock and realized they'd be home soon. It was at that time when we'd spring into action. Dishes were washed and dried, the kitchen scrubbed, all floors swept/vacuumed, the bathroom cleaned, the bedrooms straightened up. Of course, trying to get all this done in an hour, while worrying about what would happen when they walked in the door, was quite exhausting. But, we did it. Every year.

Get Busy Cleaning!

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Lenten season. This is the time when people look at that clock and realize "Oh crap... He could be here at any time now. Let's get busy cleaning!"

Of course, as we know from Mark 13:32-37, we do not actually know when this time will be. But Lent is the time when we start preparing for it. We look inward, repenting of our sins. We become more aware of our sinful nature, making a more conscious effort to turn from sin. We give up habits which are not good for us. We engage in spiritual self-discipline and spiritual reflection, taking more time with God.

We recognize we must keep awake... we must be ready. We don't want Christ to come back while we're playing and horsing around. We want Him to come when our hearts are clean, and it's obvious the effort has been made to turn our lives to Him.

"And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake." (Mark 13:37)

Keep that Coffee Pot Filled

One thing I don't like about Lent is that we practice this spiritual self-discipline for 40 days a year (46 if you keep it up on Sundays also). And then we slip right back into our lives (some of us do this before the 40 days are even done). Don't get me wrong - I love Lent and all its meaning and practices. But it is something we should be doing year-round. We shouldn't be like the children who just goof around until the clock hits a certain time (or the calendar hits a certain day), and then realize we have to wake up and start cleaning. We should be keeping our coffee pot filled, keeping ourselves awake and ready, throughout the year.

We should be looking inward, and reaching out to God in prayer daily. We should be trying to keep from sin, and praising God for the fact that He loves us even with our sinful nature. We should be reaching out to those in need throughout the year - not just as the clock hits Lent. We should be letting go of those things which keep us from God, and staying away from them every day - not just for 40 days. We should be consistently strengthening our relationship with Christ year-round - not just starting on Ash Wednesday and stopping on Easter Sunday.

So, as you get those ashes on your forehead today, and begin your Lenten practices, remember to keep that coffee pot filled so you can stay awake for the next 40 days, and for the remainder of the year, keeping our hearts clean and turned to Christ.

God bless!

Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down

This post isn't about the fun little nursery rhyme many of us grew up chanting with our friends. But it is about ashes, and about falling down.

Today is Ash Wednesday... it marks the beginning of the Lent season, and as I did last year (not too successfully) and promised again to do this year, I will be writing a post every day during this season. These posts are for myself (even though I share them publicly and welcome/encourage comments)... they're a chance for me to reflect on God and with God. A chance for me to strengthen my relationship with Him, and let go of my relationship with sin. A time for me to cleanse my heart and prepare a place for Him there. A time for me to renew my spirit in Christ Jesus.

Today, I fall on bended knee before the Lord in repentance. Today, I fall on bended knee before the Lord in servitude. Today, I fall on bended knee before the Lord, recognizing that I am but dust, and to dust I shall return, but that forever I want my soul to be more than dust or ash... I want it to be with the Lord and for the Lord.

May God bless each of you today and through the Lenten season as we spend the next 40 (46) days reflecting on Christ, and preparing for the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior.