Ash Wednesday,
2008
100 + young people
weeping in the streets
disappointed by how the
'grown-ups'had let them down.
in below freezing temps,
they carried picket signs:
"Save Our Sherman"
"Save Our School!"
their cries blowing in the wind.
The church is close by...
come inside,
we will feed you,
warm you,
provide a place for you,
to think and yes,
even pray.
And they came
At noon
they entered the sanctuary
and heard the ancient story
of how God calls his people
to
repent,
remember,
believe
this is not how God wants the world to be!
100+ high school students
and 6 church ladies
who said, "we aren't part of a protest are we?"
sigh...
106 beloved children of God
bearing
the sign of the cross
on their foreheads;
"remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
I shall never forget the Ash Wednesday
when the children
gave me a voice.
repent, remember, believe
ReplyDeletethis is not how God wants the world to be!
amen, sister.
In our practices, our witness, and our worship, we can claim and hold that promise. If we can claim and hold it, we can begin to live into it.
thank you -
thank you, Jen.
ReplyDeletethis is a true story of what happened that day - it started many on a path that was difficult and enlightening and yes, even empowering.
we must, must, must live into the promise!