A
Modest Proposal: a 'kinder, gentler' Lent
Years
ago, at a St. John's, Waterbury staff meeting prior to Lent, I suggested that
we might consider “a kinder, gentler Lent”.
The
two other clergy people were horrified at the suggestion. The six lay members
of the staff thought it was a good idea. Ponder that.
I
am not someone who responses well to 'guilt'. I don't feel guilty about much of
anything. I certainly don't need to grovel in my unrighteousness. When I do
something that hurts someone else, I genuinely try to apologize and ask
forgiveness and am humbled when I am forgiven. But I don't dwell on the bad
stuff I do. I try to clean it up and move on. I don't dwell on the negative
stuff of life.
This
Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. Which always makes me think of the children's
nursery rhyme:
Ring-around
the rosie,
Pocket
full of Posies,
Ashes,
Ashes, we all fall down.
Do
you realize that harmless little rhyme, that can be danced to with the kids
falling down at the end and laughing, is about the Black Plague? Apparently one
of the first signs of plague was a circular rose-colored irritation on the
skin. The pockets of the clothing of plague victims were filled with flowers to
try to overcome the stench. Finally, the undeniable truth that we are, after
all, dust and ashes and we will die, we will die.
That's
half of Ash Wednesday's wisdom, We will die, we will die. We are, after all,
dust and ashes and we will, each of us, all of us, return to that state. I
sometimes tremble when I administer the ashes on that day. “Remember, my
friend, you are dust and to dust you will return....” What solemn, sober and
grave words. And true, true ultimately.
But
that is only half of Ash Wednesday's wisdom. The other half comes when we are called
to the Table to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. We are called to the
Table to remember, also, that we are the shining children of God, just a little
lower than the angels, created in the “image and likeness” of God.
I
have a big old raincoat. Ash Wednesday reminds me of that coat. My coat has two
deep pockets. On Ash Wednesday, one is filled with ashes, dust, humus,
dirt—that is part of who I am, who you are.
And
the other pocket is filled with moon light and star-dust and wonder and magic
and the fact that I am, you are, shining children of God, just a little lower
than the angels, the very 'visage' of God, 'image and likeness'.
That's
what makes me want to have a 'kinder, gentler' Lent. That's who we are too, not
just dust and ashes and guilt and sinfulness—the very Children of God, loved to
death by God, loved to life by God. Loved and Loved and Loved again....
Join
your congregational family on Ash Wednesday to be reminded to remember 'who we
are'--dust and ashes surely, not doubt about it...but glittering, shining,
wondrous, much loved creatures as well...invited to the Supper of the Lamb, a
special spot reserved at the Table, the best spot of all, blindingly loved and
honored and accepted and included.
Let's
remember that part during Lent instead of beating ourselves up. Let's remember
how loved and cared for we are. Let's remember God is the One who loves us best
of all, just as we are, just as we were created.
That's
what I want to be reminded of this Lent—how much God loves each of us and all
of us.
Join
me in pondering that Love, that Love, that wondrous, incomprehensible Love.....
Happy
Lent! (Is that a crazy thing to say....probably...but I say it
none-the-less....)
Shalom, jim
