Ashes II

. . . you have established equity . . . 

 - From Psalm 99

The political squabbles of our time are pitiable, when viewed from the heights of eternity. One side wants total freedom for the individual. And we already have that, in Christ. The other wants total equity in our governance, and yet we all go to the grave, with an equal amount of assets, goods, wealth, and power.

Do we really think our present problems will seem that important, from our endless moment in God's Kingdom?

Do we really think humans can truly change our own unique and powerful thoughts, let alone our voices?

Eternal creatures will observe us, and see children arguing over advantages that really aren't there. Eternal beings are forever equal, forever free.

Here's equity for you - - - the crass version:

We are all dust. We are formed from a few molecules of earth. And as soon as we die we begin the return to the dust. The process cannot be stopped. As we walk from one place to another today, who knows whether our path is bestrewn with the remains of kings, or of beggars? There is no difference. Power, wealth, fame, popularity . . . none of it can add time to your life.

But that's all cliche.

A good reflection for Ash Wednesday is to look around those about you, in your Ash Wednesday service, and realize that they, like you, are but dust. As you go about your day, look around. Everybody is but dust. No one is better, no one worse. No one has an advantage over another.

And then ponder . . . do their politics, and your politics; their views and your views, really make a speck's worth of difference to the baseline truth that we are all completely, totally equal, no matter what?

God will establish true eternal equity. He has provided equity now. And he started off by making everything equitable.