It has happened several times over the years that my birthday has fallen on Ash Wednesday creating a mix of moods and considerations. Given that we recorded the Ash Wednesday service last Friday, so it would be ready for viewing today, I confess I have been a little more caught up in birthday events today than the meditative mood of Ash Wednesday. Nonetheless, the season of Lent brings reflection and Ash Wednesday always seems a threshold day of looking back and looking ahead. So do birthdays.
So, on this day of ashes and birthday cake I have been thinking deep thoughts …
Why am I falling asleep at 8 pm when watching tv but when I am in bed at 11:30 pm I am wide awake?
Why is it that I have more ambition to do all the things on my To Do list on the night before than when I could actually do them?
Why do fresh flowers just always make me feel better?
Why did none of the grief books tell me that the third year is just as hard as the first?
Why can I some times feel fatigued but not depleted and other times feel depleted but not fatigued?
Why do some people choose happiness over honour and others choose honour over happiness?
Why after months of staying at home is it easier to stay home than face going out?
Why does a hug feel soooo good? And, why does just the sound of a dear friend’s voice automatically pick up your spirits?
Why does God keep loving me even when I can be such a jerk?
How is it that children teach us so much?
How can rituals (like ashes on my forehead) take on such significance and remind me who I am?
Why does getting older sound better than getting old? I don’t know why but I do know that this is what I am doing … just getting older but I will never get old. And I will always eat cake!
After reading and pondering the wisdom therein AND marvelling at the 40 years in Ministry, I think you are ‘getting’ better‼️And hardly getting older. You will never catch up to me in older-ness.
Feliz cumpleaños 🎈🎈🎈❣️ Abrazos, Cheryl
Had me worried until that last comment – Getting older is an honour reserved for the brave of which I know many, and eating cake is always on the menu and sometimes the first item. My father always celebrated birthdays as he valued life itself and birthdays are always a symbol of that. He also observed Ash Wednesday as respect for the dying. His philosophies (some anyway) have stayed with me and keep me strong. Should have told him that and may well do so some day.