What a way to start the day ...

Momento, homo, quia pulvis es,

et in pulverem reverteris

Remember, human, that you are dust,

And to dust you will return.

This morning of all mornings I read the following.  It has left me with a lot to ponder. 

Whoever on the medieval day

decided that it had to be ashes

to sign the season, was in touch with death

but he’d forgotten the place of red earth,

remembered in the gut by those who know

dirt mixed with the blood of woman giving birth.

The flesh of one so full of hope cries out,

comes pushing now the growing, wintered well

in her womb, wailing songs of the longing

for life and love and gentleness of green

and a springtime sun to be welcoming

for us, to warm us out of these our tombs

to bid us light and peace and graciousness.

So we are signed with earth – with death and birth.

                                                                                                    Mary Claire van Orsdal

Lent then can be a time of new beginnings,  new birth, renewed efforts, throwing off shackles, closer walks with the Lord.