Remember You are Dust

I am in my 50s now and very aware that I probably have fewer years left than I have lived.   I pay attention to how old people are when I hear of their deaths and compare that to my own age.

Remember that you are dust and to dust, you shall return.

There are many pastors who want to add something to those words like “Remember that God loves you and forgives you”.  

Well yes, God does love you,  but this body is still going to return to dust.  It is only because of God’s love and forgiveness that I have a chance of something beyond this dusty life, but dust is where I am destined.

Christianity today is very influenced by ancient Greek philosophy which said we are all immortal souls trapped in bodies on earth.  “I am just a stranger here, heaven is my home”

Well, the bible says something a little different.  

Heaven is not our home, earth is our home.  

God created us out of the earth and placed on the earth.  Our bodies are designed to live on earth, not in heaven.   We do not become angels when we die; we go to the dust when we die.

Of course like most other Christians, I long for something more than this broken, lost and often unkind world.  

But rather than a promise of an escape from this earth, the great biblical Christian hope is a redeemed world, not an escape from the world.  

We hope for resurrected bodies, not escape from our bodies.

I am made from and for this world and yet this world will not be like this forever.

I try to let this truth give me perspective.   

So that I enjoy and care for and give thanks for all the worldly blessings I have.  So that I do what God has given me to do so that others benefit more in this world from this world. 

But that I don’t cling to the things of this world so tightly that I lose trust in God to bring me to something better.

And so when those ashes are rubbed on my forehead, I need no other words to give me both humility and hope –

 “Remember you are dust and dust you shall return.

Ash Wednesday Prayer

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, according to YOUR steadfast love and mercy.

Do not judge me the way I would judge myself, for I am both too easy and too hard on myself. 

I am too easy in that I don’t demand of myself what YOU, oh Lord have given me the gifts and ability and call to do. I am too easy on myself and too hard on others often for the same transgressions. 

And yet that same arrogance and pride can so easily be wiped away as I turn to the to an almost prideful despair that assumes my sin is the only one that can never be forgiven.

So give me the faith to trust in your steadfast love and mercy that lifts me out of despair and gives me the confidence and encouragement to do what you have called me to do this day. 

Let me wear my ashes not in pride or despair, but in humble gratitude for what you have made out of me and my brothers and sisters of ashes and clay. 

I only ask for what I need for today, for we both know I’ll be back tomorrow for more. Amen.