Ash Wednesday is one of my favorite days of the liturgical calendar. It’s the one of the few times where we are stripped away of the things that separate us from one another and simply acknowledge that we are all human and we will all perish. No matter our status, wealth, job title or power, we will die. And while that may seem like something we wouldn’t want to celebrate, there’s the flip side to that coin: Ash Wednesday and the journey of Lent remind us that we are all the children of God. Like the voice during Jesus’ baptism that claimed, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased,” this journey invites us on a season where we accept that we are accepted. While the popular notions of Lent have much more to do with fasting, withdrawal and things that are rather dour and unappealing, there is the part of Lent that is totally affirming.
I grew up in a household of do-it-yourselfers; mom made most meals from scratch, dad taught me how to change oil filters, attempted to teach me plumbing skills, and many summers we spent as a family painting parts of the house. I was too impatient and often wanted to simply paint over the most recent coat. My diligent and loving parents responded by teaching me the importance of sanding down the surface, getting back to the bare walls so that the paint would stick better and not get tainted from past coats.
So often in life, we collect emotional baggage and just keep added layer upon layer, sometimes forgetting what is underneath. Lent is a time of sanding our souls down to the basics and seeing that at our core, we are a good creation, possible of being loved and loving others.
Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, help this Lent be a season where we search inward to believe that each of us are your beloved children. May this be a time of soulful sanding. Amen.
Rev. Steve Mason
Pastoral Resident
