Ashes and Dust

Lent has its morbid side no doubt. Ashes to ashes we hear at gravesides but today as I presided at a funeral of the beloved husband of a friend there was a sense of hope beyond the ashes. She is a lover of people. She sends birthday greetings to hundreds of people every year. She volunteers and helps friends and strangers. She is a positive influence on those around her. Is a positive attitude genetic? If it is she got an overabundance of those genes.

During these 40 days we are in a discipline of love. Loving not just our friends and family but strangers and acquaintances. The very act of love and generosity and kindness generates good will that ripples through the world. What act of kindness did you knowingly participate in today? A man asked me this afternoon, "Have you ever noticed how when you do something good you still get criticized?" I replied, "I know - I know. You know how the saying goes, 'No good deed goes unpunished.'" There are people in the world whose toxicity is so high that it will take love beyond the capacity of one person to overcome it. He promised he would not stop - don't you stop either. Life is brought back into balance each time you love and give and serve. I know you will find imaginative ways of giving each day of this 365 day year.