Even through your hardest days, remember we are made of stardust.

Carl Sagan

The first full day of our Lenten journey begins in the thick of winter here in the United States. Many across the countryside are dealing with rolling power blackouts in sub freezing temperatures as power companies try to deal with the surge in demand for heat. Many are dealing with snow covered and icy roads as one winter storm after another rolls through where they live. Many are dealing with the angst and frustration of waiting to find out when they can get their COVID-19 vaccination. Many still struggling with the economic, educational, social, psychological and spiritual impact this pandemic isolation and shutdown has created. Worse still, many of our brothers and sisters are grieving the loss of loved ones to this pandemic or themselves battling to recover from the virus.

With all these things going on and so many other unspoken, unacknowledged struggles we may carry within, it’s easy to think the journey is dark and hopeless. Let us begin our Lenten journey remembering that all of us are made from the dust of stars and although the road ahead may look impossible or too difficult to surmount, we know that deep within, our true substance has weathered far greater storms, far greater chaos and yet brightly twinkled in the sky above.

Let’s set out on our Lenten journey with that firm awareness seeking out ways that we can allow Spirit to shine through us, that we can allow the light of Divine Love to shine brightly from us so to help shine the way and light the path for those around us. May we remind those going through hard times that they too are made of stardust and will weather this storm. May we value and honor the ancient origins of stardust used when they too were divinely created in all those we meet today in our journey, even those whom we may not understand how to accept, tolerate or be in the presence of because their views and opinions are contrary to our own.