Ashes to oil

Having grown up Southern Baptist, and being in the Southern Baptist faith tradition until about 3 years ago, I had always heard the phrase Easter and Christmas Christians. The phrase referred to those people who only went to church on Easter and Christmas. I never thought that phrase referred to me because I was pretty much always either all in or all out. I either went to church every Sunday or never went at all. There was no in-between.

Since attending the Methodist church and learning so much I never knew before about the liturgical calendar, and about the different seasons, I have realized in many ways I was an Easter and Christmas Christian after all. What I mean by that is that while I went to church most every Sunday, I particularly looked forward to those two particular holidays in the church, because they represented the birth and the resurrection of Jesus. I never knew any of the significance of the seasons preceding those holidays.

Even after beginning to attend the Methodist church, I just kind of skipped over the significance of the seasons preceding the holidays, until this last Advent season. For the first time, I realized what was missing. I had always loved Christmas, and always looked forward to Christmas, but always had this huge let down when it was over, because it seemed there was so much build up for just one day. This past Christmas, in really observing Advent and its meaning, I realized that Christmas was so much more than just that one day, and really tried to lean in to the season of waiting and preparing which led up to the arrival of the Christ child.

Because of the blessing of recognizing the significance of Advent, I have really been looking forward to the idea of, for the first time, really observing the Lenten season and what it signifies. Up until now, the only real familiarity I have had with Lent is from having been married to a mostly unobservant Catholic for three years. I understood Lent as a time of sacrifice, but never really understood it as a season of transformation. As I was searching Pinterest this morning for an image that I could hold on to as remembrance this Lenten season, I came across a larger image containing the content of the cropped image you see here.

When I read the scripture from Isaiah 61, and read the comment underneath, it was as if my entire body breathed in deeply as my spirit breathed out “Ohhh….”

This.

This is what Lent is about.

This is what life is about right now.

A garland instead of ashes.

Oil of gladness instead of mourning.

The mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

A movement of ashes to oil.

Restoration for a wounded world.

This is what I am called to.

I have seen so much of this transformation in my own life in this past year. Now it’s time to turn it to others.

As I observe Ash Wednesday today, and absorb into my spirit all that it means, I pray:

Gracious God, as you lead me through this season of Lent, let me always keep my focus on you. Let me remember your son and his sacrifice. Let me remember your son and his example of love. For all people, of all backgrounds, in all situations. Lead me, in concert with the holy spirit, to assume the healing vocation of all humans, to bring restoration to this wounded world. Guide me with your wisdom to be the love that is needed in this place to bring oil of gladness instead of mourning. Thank you for the gift of your son, of your love each and every day, and of the call that you have placed in me to love others as you love. Without limits. Without regard to skin color, cultural or religious background, gender identity, sexual orientation, past history, or present sin. Thank you for your goodness and your grace in loving me, despite all the times that I have fallen short of your plan for me. Thank you for believing in me enough to pick me back up and give me the chance to try again. I pray in the name of your precious son. Amen.