Lenten Word 12: Ashes

We take the palms used on Palm Sunday and burn them to have the ashes for the next Ash Wednesday. Other than that use, there is very little use for and of ashes. An ash is made from the utter destruction of something useful. We've cleaned out our barbecue pits after a great meal. Meat and vegetables were cooked in a flavorful way by wood, mesquite being the best for this Texan's needs, or charcoal. And as that fuel is burning, it is producing ashes, a symbol that nothing more can be done with that thing that once was fuel.

There was a certain time in the Rio Grande Valley when it would rain ashes from the burning of sugar cane. Once the sugar was harvested from the cane, the only thing left was to burn that cane. And dirty our cars, and lawns, but it was expected and a part of life in the Valley.

For Christians to use ash is a reminder of the finality of all things. As much as we enjoy this earth and all that it offers, and as much as we enjoy living, we know that some day it will end. There will be a finality to the earth as we know it, and our life as we know it. The Lenten Journey begins with ashes on our forehead and a reminder of our own mortality, but it is done in the context of traveling faithfully with the One whose passion and life came so that we might find life and that in abundance through Him, with the promise of a life beyond this life.

Journey with that hope of Jesus' promises that He is preparing a place of us, so that where we are, He might be with us.

PRAYER: Loving God, for those who mourn the loss of loved ones, bring Your comfort. For those who mourn their own mortality, speak hope. It does not have to end here, as Jesus so clearly showed us. Amen.