Hearts and Ashes
This year, Valentines Day and Ash Wednesday fall on the same day, February 14. What do they have in common?
Hearts and ashes? Both celebrate love! What greater love is there than the love of God who chose to become a man so that we would have a God who knows what it is to be human. A God who has walked on the earth, who suffered and died, just like all of us. Lent is a reminder of God’s great sacrifice of love.
Valentines Day is often symbolized with hearts and flowers. I think hearts and ashes is more appropriate. Flowers fade quickly while love is meant to last a lifetime, till death, as symbolized by ashes. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return,” the words of Ash Wednesday as ashes are place on foreheads, remind us of where we came from and where we are going. We came from God, and we return to God. When all is gone, our physical body, our possessions, what remains is love.
This is the love I desire. Not flowers that fade or candy that remains on my hips, but love that is strong and lasting. Love that doesn’t run away at the first sign of trouble. Love that doesn’t insist on having its way, that is willing to sacrifice for their loved one. This is the love that our God pours out on our world.
Hearts and ashes, love that lasts a lifetime.
As we enter another season of Lent, let’s accept the challenge to love each other as God loves us.
Festival of Faith and Writing
The biennial Festival of Faith and Writing, put on by the Calvin Center for Faith and Writing at Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI, is happening April 11-13. Three days filled with workshops and speakers. This year, I will be leading a lunch discussion circle on Using the Enneagram to Create Diverse Characters. So, sign up for the festival and be sure to look me up!
Bible Study for Lent
Looking for a Bible Study for Lent? Check out my book, The Psalms in Light of the Lord’s Prayer. Reflect on a phrase of the Lord’s prayer throughout the weeks of Lent, starting with Ash Wednesday, then through Holy Week.
What are doing for Lent this year? I would love to hear from you. Email me, patricia@patriciamrobertson.com.
I’m praying for all as another Lent approaches, that it be a time of spiritual growth and growth in love!
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