Sent by ash
we join Love in the desert,
disoriented, dizzy. we thirst
as we wander rending
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Ashen timelines
we inherit historyhistory of horror, heartachethe systemic sinsthe memories of line after lineof penitent, penitentour breath, our skinheavy hearts –no denial, only Truthrepent, repentancestors lamentgaze into flamessmoke, smog, ash:reality invades temptations to escapeyet we must remain, remainso we say Amento mortality, humilityto dust & decayto being todaythe bodiesalong linesof time smearedwith sorrow,with truth,with ash who…
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below the surface
under the ashes under the crease of skin flesh bone brain body air fire water earth metal under the ashes elements of nature nature made by holiness and love under the ashes minds and hearts groan and admit the need to repent as faithful penitents who give, pray, fast in secret, in quiet under the…
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Returning to my body and my God, all Lent long
Return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God, For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting in punishment. — Joel 2:12-13 As Lent began, I stood in a cathedral made of…
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The mortals return, as dust and ash.
As dust, as mortals, we move closer to our graves each day. Lent: this season summons us to deeper holiness with an airy invitation: a breeze blending the chaos of distraction, disappointment, despair with the brightness of hope, love, faith. Repent, Repent, Repent, Repent. We are worthy, God’s children and we are sinners, confronting our…
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Death Poetica
Behind barbed wire In the county jail Woman recites poetry; Declares she’ll die. Bodies young, old Form lines. Summoned to penance, Knowing they’ll die. Bodies in lines Words in lines Dust and grime Ash to ash Dust to dust A friar smudges symbol into brow after brow. The texture: touch, trust. We are blackened by…
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Harden Not Your Hearts: Hearing the Call for Repentance
I know well enough that the time to address racial inequity was centuries ago. It is also now. And while it is a national sin, it is my work as much as anybody else.
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penitents and elements
ash sand air wind flame land repent repent penitents and elements children of God children of earth repent repent skin spit breath bone flesh fire repent repent change convert transform trust humble mortal repent repent these bodies hold histories hopes mysteries every one weak broken all made for union communion penitents and elements children of…
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As dust
Oh God, who desire not the death of sinners, but their conversion, mercifully hear our prayers and in your kindness be pleased to bless these ashes, which we intend to receive upon our heads, that we, who acknowledge we are but ashes shall return to dust, may, through a steadfast observance of Lent, gain pardon for sins…
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Love and ashes
our bodies make lines and our hearts beat repent, repent make us more honest in forty days conversion time prepare us, Mystery, for an eternity with you, true Love create in us clean hearts draw us closer– Love, we are yours You are our heartbeat You are our way help us fast, pray lines of…
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Anxious resistance
I had a knot in my stomach all day. I couldn’t focus at work. I lost my appetite. I felt exhausted as soon as I woke up. My mind was running with a thousand scenarios of things going wrong. I became keenly aware of that familiar feeling: a low-grade but persistent anxiousness; a lump that…
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Marked
Most days, our schedules are clogged with avoidance: We’d rather ignore the inevitable smudge of human decay. This morning though, Ash Wednesday, we step into lines and confront the truth of pain. We allow strangers to mark us with a message of paradox. Remember, you are dust. To dust you will return….
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