Today is Ash Wednesday. And we are reminded we are dust and to dust we shall return. The sign of the cross is made on our foreheads from the ash of the palms we waved in joyful hosannas a year ago. Now it is dark and we wonder what the next 40 days hold for us.

We might be kick starting our sobriety, picking up where we left off after an anything but Dry January. We might be swearing off Facebook, Instagram, FOMO and swearing off swearing. We might be wondering how to terminate the relationship with the Girl Scout cookies in the cupboard which also, ironically, occur this time of year.

Whatever it is, Ash Wednesday demands our attention. And perhaps a reframe. We may want to deliberately choose to focus attentively, mindfully with our “face toward Jerusalem” as the gospel of Luke declares. Rather than what can we give up—which seems a recurrent theme in sobriety—what if we focus on what we gain? Clear head. Less shame. Restored relationships. And what about a Companion on the way? The prophet Joel reminds us this Companion says we can return to Him with all our heart, with fasting. For He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and relents from punishing. That will definitely be helpful!

We can take this 40 day One-Day-At-A-Time journey knowing it takes us into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. Through a dinner with friends sharing the bread and wine and washing the feet of the betrayer. Tears in a garden praying for anything but this, anything! Mockery, torture, death and the darkness of the tomb.

But it takes us to salvation as well. To that happy morning when hell today is vanquished.

And doesn’t that sound like recovery? Haven’t we all endured our own heart breaking betrayals? Unsure who our friends are? Our sleepless nights praying for anything but this, anything! Even our own deaths?

So this year invite the Spirit to join you. To enter into your recovery, into your next day, into your next 40 days. Journey with Jesus of Nazareth who was acquainted with infirmity and rises from the grave with a mighty triumph o’er his foes.

We all need a Friend like that who loves us even though we are dust.

Deborah M
Lancaster PA