Be humble for you are made of earth.

Be noble for you are made of stars.

Today in the liturgical calendar is Ash Wednesday. The first day of Lent.

Traditionally, this is a day when outside of COVID-19 isolation and social distancing, the faithful would flock to church and receive ashes on their forehead being marked with the sign of the cross from the ashes of last year’s Palm Sunday palms and words like this uttered by the priest:

“Remember, thou art dust, and to dust, thou shall returnest.”

Over the past year we as a society have weathered the COVID-19 pandemic and the isolation and social distancing it brought with it. Here in the United State, over the past year, we have weathered the most divisive presidential election season in the history of our country. One that nearly brought our republic down and all that we hope for and dream for as a country along with it.

I thought for this Lenten journey, rather than focusing on our individual mortality individually, we should shoot for loftier thoughts, meditations and visions. Focus instead on something which we all share in common collectively — we all, all creation, originates from stardust.

Please virtually join me on this Lenten journey as we daily walk taking this awareness into consideration. As we grow in our awareness of the connectedness of all things through our cosmic origins from star dust. As we read the words of poets, of writers, of scientists and artists for 40 days and come to celebrate our fullness in the Christ consciousness on Easter Sunday.

If you’d like to join me, feel free to virtually come forward and be reminded of this glorious truth as I mark your forehead and bless you with the starry cross with these words:

Be humble for you are made of earth.

Be noble for you are made of stars.