Remember that you are
dust… And to dust you shall return..
We are in the midst of
Lent. It is a sobering time every year when we hear these words
spoken on Ash Wednesday at church. Certainly these words or the truth
they convey are not new to us. But we can go about our lives most of
the time and not think very hard about them..
But during Lent and
especially on Ash Wednesday and then during Holy week as we are
reminded that we are dust and that even our Savior died.. or when
something happens to us to undermine our sense of well being or
when our health is compromised these words are many times brought
home to us.
This year, right before
Lent, I was happily making my way to my niece’s house to play
cards… Instead.. I tripped and fell.. put my arm out to catch
myself and instead put it through a chain link fence! I ended up
breaking my humerus just below the shoulder and just above the
elbow. Now, I know this happens to many people.. (well maybe not the
fence part!) But when it happens to you.. it is different somehow.. A
part of my body was literally broken… it had betrayed me.. I could
not use it as I had taken for granted every day of my life until that
time.. I believe that at first I was in shock.. and just retreated..
The process was a kind of roller coaster ride for me.
During this same period,
several members of my family became ill in one way or another.. a
sister was hospitalized with a very serious condition. There was
division in my church family… In fact at one point, I made the
statement to a church member “ Well I fell and broke my arm,
everyone is sick, and our church seems to be falling apart… it’s
LENT! But… Easter is right around the corner and maybe spring is on
the way!!
At
first my entire arm was limp and I could only use my hand. But then,
gradually as the bone began to heal.. I was able to use the forearm
and the elbow and it seemed to me as though my arm were dead as was
regaining new life! And I have learned just how many friends I have
and how many people really do care.
At the same time.. people
have regained health.. even the sister who was so gravely ill and
could have died! Our church family has had some healing discussions..
and it seems as though we are and want to continue to be a church
family doing the mission that God has given us on our corner in
Lancaster.
The church and my arms
still have a way to go.. but both are moving forward.. and Easter is
indeed on the way! I truly believe that He gives beauty for ashes and
that with God nothing is impossible!
All of this has given me
time to reflect inwardly on many things and indeed this may turn out
to be the most meaningful Lent I have ever experienced even if some
of it was very unpleasant.
We are of course still but
dust.. but we also know the end of the story.. that Jesus, though
his earthly body did suffer and die, rose from the dead to free us
from the power of sin and death and to raise us up to new life.. in
this life and in the life to come!
Let us pray.. Dear Lord as
we remember how you suffered and died to bring us new life in you,
let us always be grateful and show this by our love to one another
and our love and service to others. Amen
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