An Ash Wednesday Reflection

As the cross is formed in ashes over your head, we say the words 

"From dust you came, to dust you will return."  

Ash Wednesday is an invitation to remember that life is unpredictable, 

but it has a definite start and a definite end -

which lends the middle meaning it would not have otherwise.   

It's easy to get caught up in the dust part of things, 

the everyday responsibilities and goals we create for ourselves, 

and to lose awareness of the Source of our being.  

We are made of dust, but we were made by God.  

In God, "we live and move and have our being." 

So as we observe Lent, let us also observe ourselves.  

Let us take notice of how we have forgotten our connection with God, 

how we have numbed ourselves from feeling God's love, 

and how we have covered ourselves in leaves of shame for not being enough.  

May this be a time to re-connect yourself to Gods love and care for you, 

to let go of habits and tendencies that deaden your spirit 

and be set free to live a life of connection and intimacy with 

the One who knows you best.