05 March 2025 AD
Ash Wednesday
Dear Godson,
Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of repentance and fasting. The rite of placing ashes on the brow has it roots in the ancient Jewish practice of mourning and humility, and, earlier, the reminder from the days of Adam that man is risen from dust and returns to dust.
The beasts of the field, as best we know, have no forethought of their mortal span nor any craving for eternal life. Devising memorials is no part of their lives, nor any admiration of beauty for its own sake.
Man gets a glimpse of eternity when his eye falls on beauty in nature, seeing star or diamond, moonrise or mountain, geyser, pine forest, rushing rill, rearing stallion, bright flower, sleek cat, beetle or butterfly or gurgling babe in joy, a damsel seen by candlelight turning her head just so, dark eyes softly gleaming.
Beauty reflects eternity, hence springs from God and leads back to Him.
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