Ashes,Dust,Dirt or Earth?

I am a relative new comer to Lent. The cultural milieu in which I was raised afforded virtually no opportunity to either understand or explain Lent. All activities relating to church or religion that originated with or were in any way connected to catholicism, were met with both a high degree of skepticism and fear. The former as to the spiritual merit of catholic worship and the latter due to assumed cultic associations with the church.

I have wound my way through the halls of protestantism. I have worked for Charismatic, Pentecostal, Swedish and American Lutheran churches. I am now living in Iceland and working for the state-run Lutheran church. My thoughts regarding Lent have wound their way with me.

Lent is a season in the church calendar ( 40 days) in which one prepares for Easter. The initial day of Lent is called Ash Wednesday. I have found it interesting to compare the English and Icelandic words that describe certain aspects of Ash Wednesday. The English speaker will be referred to as “ashes and dust”. The Icelander will be referred to as “dirt and earth”. The English speaker will see himself as what is left over from something burnt or old. The Icelander will view his beginning and end as something more organic and wholistic. My thoughts on the beginning of Lent and “Ash Wednesday”. Sacralife!