A Lenten Reflection by Vonda Pearson

March 1, 2022

Ash Wednesday has become one of the most meaningful days for me in the liturgical calendar. I love the realness of it. I love the truth being spoken of the reality of our impermanence. I love the profound, simple and intimate act of having the minister dip their thumb in ash and mark my forehead while they state: You are dust and to dust you will return.

Or in other words, I will die someday. I certainly feel shock, panic and huge sorrow in response and to my grateful relief and amazement, love. Being reminded of my impermanence, I’ve found my heart is completely filled with a deep love for my life. My heart becomes so soft and tender and I see the utter preciousness of my life. And being reminded of your impermanence, I see the utter preciousness of your life. The more I let the truth of our impermanence sink in, the more I’m in love with everyone and everything. And the more I want to make my life and your life more wonderful.

As I write this, I’m looking outside at beautiful blue shadows the sun is making on the snow as it shines on the trees outside of my house. Knowing these shadows are not permanent, I’m really wanting to take them in. I want to know them. I pay attention to how the shadows move on the snow when the wind is blowing at the trees. I pay attention to how they get longer as the sun goes down in the sky. And I notice the brown, thin, bent stick sticking up through the snow – once completely covered by a shadow and now only at its edge.

I’ve heard it said that the highest form of love is to pay attention. On this Ash Wednesday, I hope I will allow the truth that I am on my way to dust to seek in deep. And then to feel the love that comes in response and let that love guide me to pay attention. To pay close attention to the preciousness of my life, your life, of all life. And to act in ways that make all of our lives more wonderful.