Thank you for this beautiful passage. Yes, it all can be too much and I am finding it a challenge to see the good these days. Losing several family members in very tragic ways has me in a "questioning" stage. I am thankful to be back in the Lowcountry for Spring and early summer. Seeing the flowers getting ready to bloom and the beautiful water views brings me joy.
Last night, as I received ashes at one of the alters where you've dispensed ashes in your service as a pastor, the enormity of what we are saying on Ash Wednesday really hit me. I probably should say the reality of what we are saying. And it was good. How weird is that? Perhaps one of the wonderful things about believing in a God who will love us forever is that we can face mortality in a profoundly different way. As Charles Wesley wrote, "Where O death is now thy sting?"
I think of that hymn so often; it's very comforting. And yes, it's kind of weird, but in a good way, that the reality of our mortality can be good news... a blessing....
"And so: We listen to one another. We see one another. We take a brave step or two in the direction of connection. We choose compassion. We choose mercy. We choose generosity of spirit, and generosity of resources. We choose justice. We feed the bird-fragile family of humanity, we fill a giant tray of grace and set it out for everyone. This is how we resist the darkness, this is how we wage hope. This is how we live."
Thank you for this beautiful passage. Yes, it all can be too much and I am finding it a challenge to see the good these days. Losing several family members in very tragic ways has me in a "questioning" stage. I am thankful to be back in the Lowcountry for Spring and early summer. Seeing the flowers getting ready to bloom and the beautiful water views brings me joy.
Last night, as I received ashes at one of the alters where you've dispensed ashes in your service as a pastor, the enormity of what we are saying on Ash Wednesday really hit me. I probably should say the reality of what we are saying. And it was good. How weird is that? Perhaps one of the wonderful things about believing in a God who will love us forever is that we can face mortality in a profoundly different way. As Charles Wesley wrote, "Where O death is now thy sting?"
I think of that hymn so often; it's very comforting. And yes, it's kind of weird, but in a good way, that the reality of our mortality can be good news... a blessing....
Thank you! Yes! I love that you wrote:
"And so: We listen to one another. We see one another. We take a brave step or two in the direction of connection. We choose compassion. We choose mercy. We choose generosity of spirit, and generosity of resources. We choose justice. We feed the bird-fragile family of humanity, we fill a giant tray of grace and set it out for everyone. This is how we resist the darkness, this is how we wage hope. This is how we live."
Beautiful!