"Nothing chills the heart of manLike passing through death's gateYet to him who enters dailyDeath's a glorious fate"
(from "Enter In" by Steve Green)
In a nut shell Green captures our Lenten goal - to die to self and live the life of Christ offered to us as Christians. The song goes on entreating us to "Enter in Surrender to the Spirit's call / To die and enter in."
We are encouraged to wage war against the flesh in that deep conflict that rages within our souls. With "each borrowed breath" we "inhale the Spirit's will to die a deeper death"."all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again" Ecclesiastes 3:21. This is a good starting point for Ash Wednesday and a Lenten reflection. In a homily on Ash Wednesday Father Hope Klutsey shared how he went to visit Bishops and church prelates who had written books and had been great leaders. Now they were "dust", fading from this life.
Some fade into Alzheimer's, not knowing where they are or what they did in this life or in God's Kingdom. But thanks be to God there is no insignificant human being on this earth. Jesus died for each one of us, just like God created each one of us in that miracle of birth.
Our return to dust only makes sense if we are progressing in the Spirit, ready for that celebration that is coming after this earthly life. When we realize this we know that being "over the hill" is not so bad. It's really pretty nice up here.
Being retired from a regular job gives us freedom to serve in the vineyard wherever there is need, even as we continue to grow closer to the Lord. In the end we justify each day in having attempted something worthwhile. But even that is misleading, because we live with certain limitations that will get more restrictive as our physical journey continues. Some days we do less but realize more.
We continue to evolve, as Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey, 44, winner of the best actor Oscar for his role as Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyer's Club said. "When you got God you got a friend," he said, quoting the late Charlie Lawton. Then he challenged us with a personal example.
"So every day, every week, every month, every year of my life, my hero is always ten years away My hero is me." We are always striving to be the best "me" we can be. Filled with gratitude for all that we are, we continue to strive for all that we can be.
"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." - Buddha
