With Ash Wednesday earlier this week, we are now in the Christian season of Lent. For Christians, Lent is the 40 days, not counting Sundays, leading to Easter, which is April 9 this year. Lent is a time of soul-searching, confronting the reality of our mortality and the mystery of death. The ashes on the forehead connect our thoughts to the phrase, “ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” Giving up, temporarily, some worldly pleasure, reminds us that eventually we will give up our entire physical existence, so best not to get too attached!

It sounds morbid, but I find, as with all truths, that honest contemplation of our physical existence, including, eventually, our non-existence, feels liberating. I try to follow, as you’ve heard me say, a reality-based religion. The reality is we live and we die. Life is amazing, but finite. Recognizing this reality doesn’t depress me, but acknowledging my mortality does cause me to live in a different way.

I try to be more aware. I try to be more grateful. I try to take troubles more lightly, and look up to bigger things, and beyond to deeper things. I ask, “What does matter?” as we’ve been asking in worship, and work to put my attention and my time there.