Ashes: Lenten Song and an Offering

Special thanks to "bunnits" over at Art In The Wind, who not only told me about this song, but also tracked down the lyrics and sent them via email. The song is "Ashes" by Pat Conry.

1. We rise again from ashes, from the good we’ve failed to do.

 We rise again from ashes, to create ourselves anew.

 If all our world is ashes, then must our lives be true,

 an offering of ashes, an offering to you.

 2. We offer you our failures, we offer you attempts,

 the gifts not fully given, the dreams not fully dreamt.

 Give our stumblings direction, give our visions wider view,

 an offering of ashes, an offering to you. 

 3. Then rise again from ashes, let healing come to pain,

 though spring has turned to winter, and sunshine turned to rain.

 The rain we’ll use for growing, and create the world anew

 from an offering of ashes, an offering to you. 

 4. Thanks be to the Father, who made us like himself.

 Thanks be to his Son, who saved us by his death.

 Thanks be to the Spirit who creates the world anew

 from an offering of ashes, an offering to you.

While this plays, I am reflecting on that which may be "given up" for Lent.  If the abstinence of the substance or activity is given up, it is called sacrifice.

And if the mere act of not succumbing to a temptation is given up (which is likely not in our best interests anyway), why is it then termed "sacrifice"?

It seems that sacrifice has many depths...pausing to consider.

Please visit Floss at the blog where she has sponsored a theme of writing during Lent.  Her left sidebar links to others who are writing on the theme of "A Pause in Lent".  Reading others' thoughts does give pause. Reread the second verse of Ashes; my favorite.