From Dust You Came, and to Dust You Shall Return

One of our younger youth stands in front of me, and we make eye contact as I say the phrase, "From dust you came, and to dust you shall return." I make the sign of the cross on his forehead with ashes from my thumb. He turns to go back to his seat and I look up to see who's next. Standing in front of me now is that youth's grandfather, a retired minister and someone to whom I often ask ministry questions and listen to his stories. In a short period of time, this man has become a sort of unofficial mentor for me, and now he's standing before me on Ash Wednesday. Somehow, I'm supposed to offer this man a reminder of his imperfection and impose ashes on him.

I have to confess, I didn't want to. It wasn't my place as an inexperienced minister to play that role in his life. I wanted to give him the bowl of ashes and switch spots with him. That, surely, would have been more appropriate.

A year has passed since that Ash Wednesday. In that time, I've learned a lot. I've grown. I've made mistakes. I've had good days. I've had bad days. And now here we are, back on Ash Wednesday again with me slated to impose ashes on folks for whom I have no business performing holy rituals. One thing is different, however. This Ash Wednesday, I am bringing a new perspective.

The irony of feeling inadequate as a young minister on Ash Wednesday was lost on me last year. Ash Wednesday, by design, highlights our inadequacies. Of course I'm not good enough to impose ashes. Of course I'm not holy enough to bring God into the lives of others. Of course I'm not pure enough to purify others. And that's the whole point of Ash Wednesday.

In my own ashes, I am reminded of my shortcomings, my mistakes, and my uselessness. By focusing my attention on these things, even for a time, I am better prepared to accept and marvel in the grace that God gives us each day, which culminates in the Easter experience.

Ash Wednesday reminds me of 2 Corinthians 4:7--"But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us." (NRSV)

It used to be, when people had something valuable and there weren't banks to put things in, the person would hide the item in a clay jar, so that it would blend in with other normal, unworthy things in the home. This was often the case with expensive perfume or spices. We are the clay jars and, for whatever reason, we have been chosen as vessels for some of God's "extraordinary power." While it's true God doesn't want us to simply blend in, the reality is we have about the same amount of power as a clay jar on our own.

Tonight, this clay jar will bring his imperfections to the front of the Sanctuary and go on a journey with other folks whom I respect, love, and admire. There are those younger than me who may look my way, just as I look at those who have traveled this road many times before. Ministers are not exempt from flaws, and on Ash Wednesday my flaws actually bring me closer to God.

From dust I came, and to dust I shall return.