Dust and Ashes and Blessed

There is a tradition among the Hasidic Jews that teaches that everyone should have two pockets in their coats with two slips of paper. One slip says: “I am only dust and ashes.” The other slip says: “For me the whole universe was created.”

Today is the day we focus on that first slip of paper. Ash Wednesday reminds us of our own mortality. When all is said and done, we are only dust and ashes. One day we will simply be no more.

But there is another slip of paper, the one that says, “For you the whole universe was created.” We are reminded that God has blessed us with a universe too beautiful to describe. It is all gift and it is for us.

As we are marked with the ashes of repentance today, we are invited to hold these two themes in healthy relationship: to remember that our life here on earth is limited and to hear God whispering to us, “For you, I have created the universe!” All life is sacred.

In this season of deep reflection, may we encounter the One who loves us beyond life itself.

God of love, during this season of dust and ashes, teach me to see the sacredness in all that you have created. Amen. — MW

Contributed by Dust and Ashes and Blessed

There is a tradition among the Hasidic Jews that teaches that everyone should have two pockets in their coats with two slips of paper. One slip says: "I am only dust and ashes." The other slip says: "For me the whole universe was created." Today is the day we focus on that first slip of paper. Ash Wednesday reminds us of our own mortality. When all is said and done, we are only dust and ashes. One day we will simply be no more. But there is another slip of paper, the one that says, "For you the whole universe was created." We are reminded that God has blessed us with a universe too beautiful to describe. It is all gift and it is for us. As we are marked with the ashes of repentance today, we are invited to hold these two themes in healthy relationship: to remember that our life here on earth is limited and to hear God whispering to us, "For you, I have created the universe!" All life is sacred. In this season of deep reflection, may we encounter the One who loves us beyond life itself.
Eternity for Today