Introduction by Pastor Kathy King-Nobles
In his recent blog post Bishop David Bard wrote: “In the course of my ministry, I changed the traditional greeting on Ash Wednesday from “You are dust and to dust you shall return’ to ‘You are dust and stardust.’ Bishop Bard’s Blog
Yes, we are fragile and finite and foul things up. And we are made of the same material as the stars that shine in the night. The image of God remains within us. . . We humans are this incredibly complex tapestry of fragility, finitude, tendency to foul things up and capacity to take flight and soar. . . . In Lent we ponder the incredible complexity of who we are and our relationship to the God who created us and redeems us in Jesus Christ.”
Lent is an invitation to do some self-reflection. What are the areas in our lives that need improvement? And what should we consider adding to our lives, or as the scriptures say, what should we take up for the sake of Christ? We are made in the image of God, a little less than God (Psalm 8:4-5). So God must have confidence in our abilities. Yes, we’re as fleeting as dust and as remarkable as stardust.
Our faith and actions can be impactful not only for ourselves, but for our community. Each day, there will be a new “up” phrase to reflect on. On this Ash Wednesday, what are you storing up for the sake of Christ?
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Ash Wednesday Devotional
Ash Wednesday: Store Up
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” — Matthew 6: 16-21
“Storing up treasures” is a classic scripture that often kicks off the Christian season called Lent. We are invited to store up the kind of treasures that last beyond the quick consumer fix… experiences, memories, gratitude, expressions of love, helping a neighbor — generally bringing more good into our time and place.
Today is Ash Wednesday, a day we remember that our lives are not limitless and our time on this earth is precious. What will you be “up to” with your one “wild and precious life” (thank you, Mary Oliver) that will feel like you got to store up true treasures?
Reflection: Make a list of treasures in your life.
Prayer: Merciful God, I come before you knowing that change must happen in my life. But at times facing those changes feels overwhelming. I feel the external expectations that distract and draw me into less important pursuits. In this moment of quiet, I listen carefully for what’s up.
Music: Listen to “Somebody Like Me”
