Oil and Ash?

Today is Ash Wednesday. Christians world-wide attend services where oil and ash are mixed and used to mark the sign of the cross on their foreheads. I smile remembering my Catholic friend, Lynn, who came to a college teachers' meeting with a smudge of ash on her forehead after a morning Ash Wednesday service. Now, more and more Protestant churches are joining their Catholic brothers and sisters in this ritual. Wonder about its meaning?

Symbolically, the 40 day fast of Lent matches Jesus pre-ministry fast in the wilderness, which relates to the Jews forty years of wandering before finding the Promise Land. Sack cloth and ash were used to grieve in the Hebrew texts, and you can still see in some Middle Eastern cultures images of those throwing clouds of ash to darken their tear-streaked face of anguish in their deep grieving.

Though there is plenty to grieve in each life, I am not a big fan of mourning and repenting ritualistically since I have felt beat up by a past focus on hell-fire and brimstone. I spent too much time quaking in my bones over the prospect of life in hell and doubting a God of Love. That was not life-giving. Now as I lean more toward the wisdom traditions, I appreciate the symbolism of Ash to help us face our mortality and oil, the sign of God's presence in Spirit.

Many wisdom traditions recognize the productive reflection on our limited time on earth. Done well, our priorities can rise to the top and give us insight as to what is getting in the way of our deep joy or what is not getting enough of our energy and time. The goal is to make better choices and who knows, perhaps mourning and repenting leads to the same for different personalities or cultural contexts.

You’ve undoubtedly heard of giving up something for Lent – the 40 day period before Easter. The idea is that with each longing in a fasting pang of hunger, we become mindful that our real desire is for the Divine. It is also enough time to instill a good habit OR break a bad one.

I haven’t done a Lenten fast every year. In part, I want to be sure I don't let it become a new rule to promote failure and legalistic thinking. Also, I haven’t landed on a motivating idea…yet. There is time and I yet choose a Lenten fast. I’ve heard some provocative ideas from my little faith community at Eagle Harbor where I am a pastoral intern. Someone mentioned giving up hopelessness while another is giving up fasting! What he meant is instead of giving up something, he was gong to try for openness by taking something on.

Our lovely church secretary, Jenn gave a great example for this approach. She is trying on the Benedictine Praxis of prayer and daily schedule, using the little book Always We Begin Again. I've also been around creative types whose spiritual practice dwells in the arts. They have used Lent as a season of discipline for their art as their path to openness.

Hmmmm I’m inspired to consider...the options are good...the results....promising. Stay tuned or better yet, share your Lenten praxis.