permeation and perspective

Ash Wednesday. This day in my recent history as a Christ follower has been extremely formative. The season of Lent calls us to reflect and remember the journey to the cross, to mourn and repent of our own sin, and to find ourselves purified and cleaned through the faithfulness of Christ. Amen.

As I begin to think of ashes, which we do impose upon ourselves as a sign of mourning and repentance, I began to think of the process that is involved to have ashes. Whatever the object, whether palm branches, paper, wood, etc., it is broken down to ashes. It is reduced to dust, of which it all found roots at one point in time. The process of burning, the flame being fed by the wind, has the ability to bring something to the very foundation. This is where we begin our journey.

It is not the ashes that I initially focus on though, but the smoke that permeates from the fire and ashes. Much like being around a camp fire, the smoke follows you somehow. Spend 1 minute around a camp fire and you carry the scent with you everywhere. Whether you love the smell of the campfire, or hate it, the perspective of "you" begins to be seen (or smelled) by those around you. Having the smell of campfire is normal while around a campfire. It makes sense, everyone smells the same, its a group. It's when we go back into our cars, our homes, or even public places, where people know where we have been, around a fire.

I want to be a permeating scent, a beautiful aroma to those around me. Much like a conditioned response, by being in the flame of Christ, the smoke of myself being broken down to its foundation, I want Christ to be seen through my actions. We are called to followers, made into disciples, and transformed and restored into the image of God.

Lenten Blessings.