Beauty in the Dust
Posted on 23. Feb, 2012 by Josh Agerton in Formation
Last night we gathered as the body of Cornerstone Church and did something very peculiar – we smeared ashes on our foreheads. This has been the custom of followers of Jesus for centruies, observing Ash Wednesday as the doorway into Lent – the 40 days of preparation before we celebrate the days of our Lords passion and resurrection.
The ashes spread on our heads remind us of our frailty, mortality, and sin. We are utterly hopeless and messed up. But it’s in this place of confession and repentance that we press deeper into Jesus, our only hope. And somehow – in this confession of embracing our frailty something beautiful happens. We begin to experience Christ’s grace, mercy, and love for us – the undeserving ones. And it’s through this that he begins to make us new – taking what was once the most shameful and hidden and turning that into the very hallmark of our lives where we see his work the most.
I love this song by Gungor that we sang last night. It really captures the movement of finding beauty in the ashes. Hoping that you take the time to be quiet and listen to the mystery of these words.
