Episode 2: March 10 - Ash Thursday

Yesterday there were ashes.

And words:  You are dust

      and to dust you shall return.

I am doomed.

I came from dust.

I shall return to dust.

The flame of my life will burn out

      in ashes blown by the wind.

And that will be the end.

Is that how it ends?

Ashes blown by the wind?

Or is that how it begins?

“In the beginning

the earth was a formless void and . . .

a wind from God swept over.”                                  (Genesis 1:1-2)

“The wind blows where it chooses,

      and you hear the sound of it,

but you do not know

      where it comes from

      or where it goes,” said Jesus

So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”              (John 3:8)

Is that how it begins?

Ashes blown by the wind.

Wind sweeping over the dust of the earth.

Spirit breathing life into the dust.                                  (Genesis 2:7)

Blow once again, O Spirit,

breathe new life once more

let me be born of the Spirit

I who am but dust and ashes.