Today is Ash Wednesday on the calendar of many Christians; perhaps a wise day to put aside the slings, arrows and even entertainments of mundane existence, at least for a moment. And I think certainly part of the value of making the observance is that it’s darned near impossible to be distracted by petty things during the moment that the minister or priest makes the sign of the cross in ashes on one’s forehead, and says the words that brook no debate: Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
In my own little church in the wildwood, congregants were encouraged to read Psalm 90 to themselves in their pews while waiting for the line of ash-recipients to dwindle. (It’s a notable fact that quite a few people come to receive ashes who are not otherwise regular attendees at the church. I guess whenever you’re giving away something free …) Continue reading “Ash Wednesday”