“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”  Dust: from the earth we have come.  And to the dust, the earth, we shall return.  Where else are such words spoken?  Who else dares to speak such truth to our delusional immortality complex?  And who else can speak such truth in such love.

In these days while markets continue to tumble, the power brokers thrash around in confusion, when the idols of perpetual economic ascent are falling, the church again gathers itself in darkened churches.  In Skandia and Ontonagon, in Gladstone and Minocqua, the church gathers to begin again what we have been doing for centuries.  We tell the Washington and Wall Street principalities, and we remind ourselves: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” 

These are sobering words, but not final words.  These are the words and symbolic actions we use to begin a journey, a journey to another cross.  A cross that transforms dust, and fear, and shame and brokenness into life, a new kind of death-defying, death-defeating life.

For those of you who mark others with this cross to begin the Lenten journey and who know so deeply what it is to bear that mark yourself.  Peace to you.  Peace to each and all of you as you lead the pilgrims in this wilderness way.  Peace.

A Blessed Lent to you all,

Pastor Lee Goodwin +