Dust to Dust; Ashes to Ashes.
This is a common phrase recited on Ash Wednesday and during the liturgical season of Lent.
It’s a common phrase I refuse to recite. Yes, I cannot say it.
The reason? Well, every time I have recited it, especially in public, I for some reason forget to say those “H’s” and end up saying, Dust to Dust, Asses to Asses.
Once it happened at a funeral. And, there’s no possible way to recover from that. Except that I probably should have just jumped into the grave and buried myself.
But, another common phrase is “From dust you have come, to dust you shall return. Repent and believe the Good News.” This phrase is often recited on Ash Wednesday during the imposition of ashes, which is fancy seminary and church word for ‘smearing ash on your forehead.’ No joke…as I just typed that I literally just typed ‘smearing ass.’ See, those H’s are hard. This is so sacrilegious, I can’t even handle myself.
Last week, I had the opportunity to smear ashes on dozens of students’ foreheads as we did our annual “Ashes on the Go” around our campus. Setting up stations across the campus, we gave students to get ashes and remind them of their mortality. Over and over I said this phrase:
“From dust you have come, to dust you shall return. Repent and believe the Good News.”
“From dust you have come, to dust you shall return. Repent and believe the Good News.”
“From dust you have come, to dust you shall return. Repent and believe the Good News.”
And, the more I recited it, the more I realized the depth of that phrase. In between smears, I started to brainstorm the depth and richness of this phrase and very quickly a bunch of other phrases started to pop into my mind. I’ve made a brief list below.
I encourage you to read through them, let them become your prayer and mantra this Lent, and allow yourself the space to become aware that you are dust, but you are the Divine’s dust.
From dust you have come, to dust you shall return. Repent and believe the Good News.
You are dust, but the Divine invests everything in dust.
You are the Divine’s, which makes you so much more than mere dust.
You are dust, but God is breathing life into you.
Change your mind, open your mind, transform your ways, believe the Good news.
Take heart, even in seasons of doubt, the Good News is still good.
You may be dust, yet dust is never alone.