Dust in the Wind

So Wednesday was Ash Wednesday which begins the season of Lent in the church calendar.  We focus on God and reflection during this time.  Originally, as a youth, I believed that I was supposed to just give something up during the lenten season.  Then I thought that I should give something up and take something else on in its place.  It wasn't until later that I realized the full meaning of giving something up for Lent was to give something up that was hindering my walk with God.  It really has a lot more meaning that way, doesn't it?

I close my eyes, only for a moment and the moment's gone

All my dreams pass before my eyes, a curiosity

Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind

Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea

All we do, crumbles to the earth, though we refuse to see

Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind

Don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky

It slips away, all your money won't another minute buy

Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind

~From the Song: Dust in the Wind by Kansas

For some reason unbeknownst to me I have always related the above song "Dust in the Wind" to Ash Wednesday and Genesis 3:19.  It has always just sort of made sense, which seemed weird since its seems like a depressing song.  It made a whole lot more sense after hearing Rev. Chris Mesa's devotional at our Ash Wednesday service.

Ash Wednesday will come around again next year and we will be in the same ol' spot.  We do things that we shouldn't and we refuse to see them or acknowledge them.  And we are back to reflect on them them same bat time, same bat channel next year.  Chris talked about memories and how we all have memories that sometimes need to be left in the past, we don't need to hang on to them.  We need to simply let some of those memories go, or put another way let them slip away.

"You are dust, and to dust you shall return."

~Genesis 3:19

"From dust you came and to dust you will return."

~Margret Fields while putting ashes on my forehead at the Ash Wednesday service

So we are to remember our mortality.  We are to remember that we are not perfect.  We will make mistakes, we will stumble.  I spoke to the youth on Wednesday about reflection during Lent.  I asked them to reflect on the last year and to think about how they could take a step towards God and becoming closer to God this next year.  Here's hoping that we are not hindered in our walk with God during Lent and beyond and not back in the same ol' spot next year.

Grace & Peace

Kevin