I have learned two things (okay, many things, but I will only reference two.) on my doctoral journey.
- 1) Academic writing is not for the faint of heart. My typical sermon manuscripts are codified oral documents. Frequently there are only words or phrases serving as prompts and place holders. Noun/verb agreement and style guidelines simply do not apply to my manuscripts. Over the years I have been published in essay collections, sermon anthologies and devotional guides which require more guidelines, but academic writing they are not.
- 2) I do not have the memory I did when I was working on my masters degree. My brain is no longer young, and I am not the woman I was in my thirties. However… there are things I am able to do now on autopilot that I could not do in my thirties. Complex critical thinking, multisensory analytical thinking, keeping my mouth shut as I analyze and work out multiple options all while being self-defined and self-aware…these gifts and many more came with age, and I am so grateful. I become more empowered, equipped, audacious, tenacious and fierce as I age, and I am unapologetic about that.
I am also quite aware I am no longer in the spring and summer seasons of my life. Fall is my season and the rich beautiful hues have called forth a depth in me I never imagined. Life is good and wonderful and breathtaking…and finite.
Today the Church around the world celebrates Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the Lenten journey. According to the Liturgical Calendar (a calendar of Church seasons), Lent is the season strategically positioned before Easter. The day is marked by worship, prayer, reflection, introspection, fasting, and participating in a service in which ashes are imposed on the forehead of the gathered. As the celebrant performs the imposition, words humans hate…but need to hear, are proclaimed, “Remember you are dust, and into dust you will return.” The annual ritual calls the gathered to remember God is God, and they are not.
On campus today the spiritual life staff will offer several opportunities to receive the imposition of ashes. Two services will be held in Snidow Chapel, one at noon and one at 9 p.m. Throughout the day university chaplains will offer the imposition of ashes at the Ashes on the Go stations. You can find the times and locations in this newsletter.
In their most basic sense, ashes remind the receiver life is a finite gift meant to be lived fully and out loud. As such, ashes are an opportunity for our entire campus community to remember our dust-ness as humans, and celebrate life. Look for me tomorrow at an Ashes on the Go Station. I will be rocking a stole and wearing my ashes as I remember my dust-ness and celebrate life!
Peace be the Journey,
Katrina