Tuesday, February 17, 2015

"On This Day Before Ash Wednesday"

Neglected,
it rests on the corner,
visible to all,
yet ignored by most …
it has been empty
far too long.

This morning,
this day before 
Ash Wednesday,
the front of the building
has been painted 
a brilliant white
and the windows
on each side 
of the entrance door
are now adorned 
with new, royal blue awnings.

Yet the “For Sale” sign
is still posted,
weather-worn
from the years 
of begging 
and pleading
for someone to look…
just look and consider
the property’s value.

If one dares 
to look closer,
beyond the brilliant white paint
and the royal blue awnings,
the other sides 
of the building can be seen.
Three other sides …
a dingy beige
with peeling paint 
and windows broken
by those who think nothing
of doing damage 
to something that is not theirs.

The flat roof
can no longer withstand
the weight of
years of debris
or torrential rains
that only accumulate 
and puddle 
in its flatness.

The property is
overgrown with weeds
and littered by those things
that others have so carelessly
and thoughtlessly
thrown its way.

What are we to think
of an appealing façade
of fresh paint 
and new awnings?
What are we to think 
of neglect 
and damage … 
of brokenness 
and litter …
of weeds 
and debris
and puddles?

Perhaps this is exactly
what we will bring with us
tomorrow … 
on this day we call
Ash Wednesday.
We bring with us
freshly painted facades 
and new awnings,
hoping beyond hope 
that those around us
will not see the 
neglect and damage,
the brokenness and litter,
the weeds and shattered hearts.

The black soot 
marks our façade
with a cross …
and the ash 
falls onto our awnings.
The difficult admission 
that there are
other sides to be seen
are whispered in prayer
and are heard by the One 
who has clearly seen 
all four sides
of each of us.

This is our tomorrow.


Holy God,
we come to you 
in need of repair …
not in part,
but throughout 
our whole being.

Create in us
a newness in our days,
a wholeness and healing through you,
a purpose in your kingdom,
hope in your love
and a pure heart before you.

Amen.

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