Many who participate in Ash Wednesday have their head marked with ashes. This is an external sign and reminder that we are simply dust.
Lent for many is about austerity and suffering.
It is our time to mirror when Jesus went into the desert to fast and pray. A time of sobriety. And yet, we do not suffer to gain our own salvation or to even gain favor with God….so, how do we take this?
It struck me today as I was thinking on this that we don’t walk the same path of the desert with Jesus in this time…we watch Him as He goes on His way of suffering. We are witnesses to this.
We do not have to suffer the cross, we do not have to suffer the turning away of God. We get to walk in the Resurrection without having to drink from the same cup as Jesus did.
That is pretty astounding.
So, Lent….this year for me it is a time to witness more quietly Jesus on His path to Good Friday and, Praise God!, Easter.
Still…today. Ashes. We are but dust. Jon Trott from Jesus People USA shared this article yesterday. It is a difficult article to read if you are in the midst of watching someone suffer with Alzheimer’s or demenita…but it also sparks some healing and thinking about what today marks.
The Small Rain 