“...for dust you are and to dust you will return.” -Genesis 3:19b
This past Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, a 40 day season of fasting, reflection, and remembrance before the Holy Week and resurrection of Jesus on Easter. This verse from Genesis is the verse a minister or pastor typically recites as they apply ashes in the shape of a cross on your forehead. I’m not sure if this is something you have done or do in your tradition of faith, but we have incorporated it into our family's life, and it has been a beautiful liturgical addition (although we didn’t get to go to the service this year because of the snow storms). But leaning into a 40 day season of fasting, reflection, and remembrance before the Holy Week and resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday has been such a gift.
Truth? I’m behind and still figuring out what that will look like exactly for our family, but it’s not too late to make some space to remember our needs, our messes, our brokenness, and to look to Jesus who has more than enough grace/love/patience/tenderness to pour into these places. In the words of Amy Julia Becker, “This season invites us to put our hope and trust (or at least a little bit of it) in the One who truly satisfies our thirsty souls.”
Honestly, I think a lot of us feel the “dust we are” sentiment right now. We have lost so much collectively this year, we have grieved and mourned. We are familiar with “dust” places, where things feel broken beyond repair. My tendency is to want to move away from these painful places, but in the same breath, more often than not, I have encountered the love and presence of Jesus in the most powerful ways in my “dust” places. Maybe there is something you’re giving up this lent season, or something you are adding to make space to remember both your brokenness and the beauty of Christ in the midst of that. I love the idea of leaning into the longings we have in order to remember the way that Jesus meets us in the midst of every lonely, broken, longing place and meets us with the presence of His love.
“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” - Romans 8:11
