Thoughts and Musings

Thoughts and Musings

random reflections on faith, music, family, life.

Ashes

2/19/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
He moves to stand in front of me,
The ritual of the annual Ash Wednesday service propelling him forward.
Her eyes meet mine, and I see in them
Something deeper than this strange thing we call "imposition."
It is almost as if he knows, somehow;
So I don't have to say the words I've prepared:
Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

I can tell she knows them already, lives them every day
Words that rested on his heart when he buried his mother last year
Words she hears whispered in the evening newscast about another ISIS beheading,
Words he lives into when a sought-after job promotion
Brings longer work hours and increased expectations.
Nothing but dust.

So I simply say his name as my blackened index finger
Drags the ash across her forehead.
Peter.   Will.  Lilly.  Hunter.  Ruth Ann.  Kathleen.  Irva.  Monte.  
Tom.  Another Tom.  Bruce.  Carolyn.  Michelle.  Rhonda.
And now it is my turn, and as the cross is formed
I hear my name called.  And my eyes speak the truth:
I am dust, and to dust I shall return.

There is hope in the ashes
Faithful expectation embracing the bitter raw world 
Of death, terrorism and fear, endless ladder climbing.
There is hope in knowing
That we come from and one day will return to dust.
For even dust has a Creator.
Even we have a name.

We leave the sanctuary silently, so words
Will no longer get in the way.
Later she would say to me, It's my most favorite service of the year.
And now, finally, I believe I know why.
Ashes. Dust. A name.
At 
long
last.
Hope.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Steve Lindsley

    Child of God. Husband. Father. Minister. Musician. Songwriter. Blogger.
    Keynoter and Songleader. Runner/Swimmer. 
    Almost vegetarian. 
    Lifelong Presbyterian.
    Queen City resident.
    Coffee afficionado.
    Dog person. 
    Panthers/Hornets fan. 
    Mostly in that order. 
    For more info check out stevelindsley.com

    RSS Feed


    Picture

    Recent Posts

    Archives

    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    Categories

    All
    Bible
    Boys
    Christianity
    Church
    Faith
    Family
    Football
    God
    Jesus
    Justice
    Leadership
    Life
    Ministry
    Music
    Olympics
    Pastor
    Pets
    Presbyterian
    Queen City
    Religion
    Television
    Wife


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.