An Ash Wednesday Gift

An Ash Wednesday post

lenten cactus 2

This year on Ash Wednesday, I rejoiced in an out-of-season bloom from the cactus on my windowsill – God’s gift of Life and Beauty to me on a day intended to remind us of our mortality.

2012 was my first experience of living the Church year within a church community, although I have been experiencing my own Lenten meditations and readings for the last four to five years in my personal quiet times. Ash Wednesday ushers in the season of Lent. Ruth Haley Barton explains it this way: As we receive the symbolic gesture of the imposition of ashes on our foreheads, we acknowledge our human finiteness and mortality. No matter who we think we are, receiving the ashes reminds us that, “You are dust and to dust you will return (Genesis 3:19). This is not meant to be morbid; it is just meant to limit our grandiosity and help us to stay in touch with the real human condition we all share.

With anticipation, I attended my first Ash Wednesday service last year – an opportunity for me to live into this new experience. As it turned out, this first venture into Ash Wednesday was difficult for me. I was troubled – angry at death, angry at having it front and center. I was sad, once again tossed around by a wave of grief I didn’t expect as I grieved the losses I have experienced. The last thing I needed was a reminder of my mortality. I am all too aware of my mortality and the mortality of others. I also felt bad – a little guilty at my responses.

Months later I shared this experience with one of our pastors who helped me understand my reactions. August through early January is marked by the death anniversary and/or birthday of my mother, (and since the writing of this piece, my dad) and the three siblings  I have lost – Gordon, Ronnie, and Baby Brenda Jane. These are times I stop to “remember.” Sometimes they are harder than others, but I always remember.

Being in a service that focused on reminding me that I am dust and will return to dust sent me to a sad, dark place. I was all too aware of my mortality. My pastor helped me see I had been having my own personal Ash Wednesday for the last five months and reassured me that I did not need to feel shame about my reactions.

Had I been able to hear God speak that night, I think I would have heard him say: “I know…I understand.”

So when I was greeted on this Ash Wednesday morning by the exquisite beauty of the cactus that has never bloomed this time of the year before, I was comforted. While we are mortals, Christ is our immortality and that is enough for me.

I suspect I will again attend an Ash Wednesday service, but for now, I am OK letting God hold me and comfort me on days when I am reminded of my losses, telling me He knows and understands, attuning Himself to me.

I love that about the God I love and serve.

 

8 Replies to “An Ash Wednesday Gift”

  1. carolyn, it’s funny, several others have reported “out of season ” cacti. I am thankful = sounds like a lot of us need the reminder.

  2. Wow! You’ll probably find this hard to believe.

    I, too, have struggled much lately. Wrestling with my attitudes regarding disappointments. Knowing God cares and sees but the struggle wearies me at times.

    Here is the kicker. My bright pink cactus is also blooming. Something it has not done since I received it about 5 years ago. Thanksgiving, yes, not this early. Wondering if there is some symbolism in cactus plants…prickly, but beautiful! Take care. Carolyn

  3. It has seriously never bloomed this time of year before??? What a little miracle of grace, Carol! So glad that you saw it and knew it was from the Lord…a gift for you to treasure and know that He sees you and loves you.

  4. Yes Elaine…I am so glad that God sees Loss as Loss and does not quantify or qualify our losses, even though others might and honestly in the past, I was guilty. another blog post maybe? With March 1st retirement approaching, I hope to be more regular on here. thanks for being such a faithful follower of this .

  5. Your thoughtful words rang so true. I loved the comfort you found. I have lost some persons in my life but I have also lost dreams and hopes for my children. No matter what, God comforts us. I was too sick to go to our Ash Wednesday service. I was sorry I missed it. (Bad cold, still coughing)

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