Since the rhythms of the church calendar tend to set the tempo for a lot of my life, it’s time to talk about Lent. This year have that lovely confluence of Ash Wednesday and Valentines Day. Like peanut butter and chocolate. This is a song I wrote for Ash Wednesday in 2021 while we were still in the throes of the pandemic. I supposed I was trying to hold the real losses we experienced alongside the mysterious welcome of the Divine.

Here’s a blessing for the week:

As you go,
May you find contentment in mystery.
May you find hope in feeble sparks.
May you find joy in stillness.
May you find grace in ordinary things.
May you find healing for your wounds,
gentleness in your missteps,
welcome in your faltering.
May compassion greet you
and lead you into the holy truth—
that you are part
of a great kindred company
of belovedness.

Here are the lyrics for this week's song:

Holy Now

Beloved ones don't be afraid
Though the snows should cover us.
Life carries on in winter's sleep
And Spring will weave her way to us.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust —
a holy now envelopes us
Though time unravels, a steady hush
Our every breath is filled with love.

Beloved there's no mark to reach,
No edges to this grace to fall.
For you were born in Love's abode,
And in her walls you're never lost.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust —
a holy now envelopes us
Though time unravels, a steady hush
Our every breath is filled with love.

Beloved stop... take a breath,
Feel the wonder in your chest.
Expanding possibilities —
You belong and you're worthy.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust —
a holy now envelopes us
Though time unravels, a steady hush
Our every breath is filled with love.