Remember that you are dust...

No one wants to be told, "You are dirt."

But the dust is a holy thing in God's sight. Over millions of years, the remains of plants of animals have settled into the surface of the earth. The intense heat and pressure of the inner earth has pressed them into rocks. Then, slowly, the rocks have broken and eroded, until they are worn down into tiny pieces. These grains of minerals mix into the soil, anchoring the roots of plants and giving them the minerals they need to grow.

To be dust is to be an essential part of the great cycle of life. When we remember that we are dust, we remember that we too have a part to play in God's mighty dream for this world.

Lent reminds us that we are small, not to make us feel weak and alone, but to help us notice that we are connected to a truth much bigger than ourselves.

Lord, when we feel weak, give us your strength. Let your power flow through us to nourish this world. Amen.