“”March brings breezes loud and shrill, stirs the dancing daffodil…” -Sara Coleridge, (1802-1852) The Months

“And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church… For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things…making peace by the blood of his cross.” 

-Colossians 1:17,20

I have spent my life–attending, participating, repeating with dedication the traditions of the church. But, we the churched are foible characters. It is a sorrowful truth many who bear the name of Christ fall into the patterns of hypocrisy and self-interest Jesus condemned among the Pharisees.  An adult view has allowed me to observe (and create) cracks in the fallen man on two legs implementing the traditions–half-fulfilling the Sermon on the Mount, chipping the veneer of sanctified souls and blurring the images of my glorious youthful experience. God forgive me.  

The seasons of the church reflect the arc of redemptive history and anchors us in the gathering of two-legged humanity formed by and in Christ even in our wretched state. 

 More than any marvels of power, intellect or dramas of the superbillionaire age the act of humanity gathered worshiping God is my most vivid human experience. Witnessing God restoring and renewing His people, the church universal, I bid to go deeper into Lent’s penitential season: Repent, pray, fast, and reconcile—notorious sinner, renowned saint or famous billionaire–we are all dust to dust. 

Prayer: 

Father God, Maker of Heaven and Earth,

 In this season of Lent, I offer to you my own dust and selfish desire, escapist habits, and petition you to make beauty from ashes. I return to you seeking not to exalt myself but reflect your unfailing love to a world in desperate need of grace. Amen