Beauty in a Wicked World
2007 February 21
Don’t you love these lyrics from Amos Lee: “Nothing is more powerful than beauty in a wicked world.”
So here’s the question: Where do you find beauty in a world filled with turmoil and wickedness? (I’ll give my answer later.)
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Today is Ash Wednesday. For many years I’ve gone with some buddies to a noon service at Heavenly Rest. A friend of mine is the minister there, and I find great significance in having him look me eye-to-eye and remind me that I’m going to die someday. (“From the dust you came, and to the dust you will return.”) I know the Ash Wednesday, lenten season, Easter movement doesn’t work for everyone. But it does for me, calling me to inner renewal and to celebration of the Risen One.
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Thanks T. Sherwood for helping out Country Fred.
I’m honored to serve as His hands and feet from time to time.
While He doesn’t need me to serve, help fulfill His purpose and minister to others, He chooses me. That’s awesome! In that opporunity lies great beauty if you care to see it!
As a former CofC’er who has found the beauty of the church year, I believe that the gift of the church year is that it recognizes that there are cycles in this world. We see it in nature, and the church year recognizes it in the spiritual world. The CofC standard line against the church year is always, “but we should do (X) all the time.” However, the church year recognizes that we as human beings have a finite attention span and cannot sustain our attempts to focus on any one aspect of our faith for an extended time. Also that there are so many aspects of Christ that deserve attention and devotion.
As for Ash Wednesday, the main message of the ashes is not to remind you that you’re a Christian, it’s to remind you that you’re a human and someday going to be DEAD. Seeing one’s own face and those of loved ones with ashes on it is a powerful reminder of that. (BTW, our priest admonishes us to wipe off the ashes before we leave church so that it not be a pride thing.)
Preacherman, your words remind me of my father-in-law (a dyed in the wool CofC’er) who, when discussing Muslims who fast during Ramadan, scoffed about it, saying, “Ha! They think that’s going to get us into heaven.” He himself was overweight and stuffing his face with food at the time. Something’s wrong with that picture.
Great words Nancy.
We taught class to the kids (real little ones) on Wednesday night. We talked about preparing for Easter, we talked about Spring and seasons, and we talked about ashes, among other things. Afterwards I wasn’t worried that we’d be excommunicated over drawing bunnies in class, but that we’d mentioned (and shown) ashes. *sigh*
We are at a wonderful church, where I doubt that it would be an issue – but I still hate that it went through my head.
Nancy,
Fat Tuesday if you look at it cheapens the grace of God. Ash wed. makes a mocker of repentance and Lent is working for salvation. You do these works for 40 days and you’ll be saved (sounds like a dyed in wool of CofC’er legalism)… I just think we should Cherish the grace of God. It was paid at the highest cost. Romans 12:1-2 tell us to be a living sacrifice 24/7 not just for 40 days. We must understand that we are saved by grace not works. Grace. Not works. Fat tuesday is about getting the sin as much as you can before you have give it up. Romans 6:1-4 tells us that we’ve given up shouldn’t willfully sin that grace may abound. Cherish. Love that gift that GOd has given you girl. It is the great gift. That is my point.
And yes Nancy perhaps God love is deep, wide, long, high, enough, even for Muslims who fast during Ramadan. I don’t think we can even begin to fathom the grace of God and love of God. I am glad that God is the ultimate judge. I think we are going to be suprised who see and don’t see on in heaven. I believe Christianity is all about relationship with Christ.
It isn\’t illegal, and it is making a lot of people rich.