Ashes to Ashes

William Law was an 18th century English poet, mystic, writer, and Anglican priest. Among his many other writings, Law adapted the monastic model of the daily "hours of prayer" (times when monks would gather together to recite the psalms and pray) for use by people who were not called to monastic life.  He suggested six different periods of prayer each day.  His belief was that each specific period of prayer should focus on something different, and should consist of both "structured" prayer and "free" prayer.  Law's model was set up along this line:

1. Praise and Thanksgiving (use of Psalms) -- beginning of each day
2. Prayer for humility -- 9:00 a.m.
3.  Prayers for universal love (intercession) -- noon
4.  Prayers for grace of resignation to God's will -- mid-afternoon
5.  Prayers of self-examination (confession) -- sunset
6.  Meditation upon death -- bedtime

When I first read of Law's proposed subjects for prayer, I found myself nodding in agreement at each one... until I came to number 6.  "Meditation upon death," I thought.  "How morbidly British!"  But over the years, as I've continued to look at and, at times use, his model, I began to see the wisdom in such a proposal.  It is not morbid at all - at least in my experience - to meditate upon death.  I have found it to be a simple, albeit profound, reminder of my own mortality.  I will not live forever.  That reminds me to cherish life each day, to live intentionally each moment, and to not fear death.  After all, as the first sentence in the Presbyterian Church's Brief Statement of Faith reminds us (borrowing from the Heidelberg Catechism), "In life and in death we belong to God."

Today is Ash Wednesday.  Ashes are a reminder of our mortality, and of God's sustaining love and grace which always surrounds us... in life and in death both.  Today marks

the beginning of Lent, a time of invitation for us to reflect, to repent, to pray, to meditate, to do acts of compassion, to give of ourselves to others.  This invitation - this call - is always extended to us.  During Lent we simply are encouraged to remember.

Blessings and peace on your Lenten journey.