Almost all of those car club friends from long ago have now since died. Mike and I lost contact, and have only recently heard from each other. This year I wait with ashes ready… mourning like old man Job as described in the Old Testament. I too shall sit in ashes reminded of their deaths.

 Consequently, I am reminded also of other Christians who have died before us, and those yet dying now for the faith. You see, at Ash Wednesday, we are called to consider the futility of our sinful lives as we try to live outside of our Lord’s forgiveness. That’s why remembering a constable sitting up in a tree looms large for me. I realize now that he was a sign shining in the darkness falling upon the road of life. He sat watching over the town. Somewhat like our Lord Jesus who died on a wooden cross… a tree of sorts... that town constable had also deliberately climbed that maple. From there he could clearly see human sin... the sins that we often commit in trying to go faster, farther, longer, higher in trying to willfully, progressively recreate the world. We steal credit from God without mentioning grace… and take undue credit for that which is already created.

 Take note that just as that village lawman enforced the law, our God yet watches from on high. God gave us his Commandments. They condemn us so thoroughly that he sent his own Son into the world to save us. We need now only to learn to stand against Satan. It is the evil one who still offends our God, by attempting to hide the fact that Jesus paid our penalty. Gracefully through the Holy Spirit however, Jesus shines his Light upon all of us. The Spirit reveals to us our salvation. All this, so we can motor safely on into his future.

Sifting,  cont’d...

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 I believe that is truly what Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent are all about. We are meant to remember past times and the darkness of our human sin… and recognize such signs as the light from a dented fender that may point upward toward the Way of salvation. The Truth be known… we are most certainly indebted to a man on a cross who was and yet is fully God, and willingly died for us as we sinfully crucified him on a tree.

May the Peace of God that surpasses all human understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Our Lord.