Remembering our frailty

As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. -- Psalm 103:13-14

In the weeks leading up to Easter, Christians have an old tradition of remembering our frailty. Ancient phrases from Latin that have been making a comeback are memento quia pulvis est (remember that you are dust) or simply memento mori (remember you will die).

To make the most of our brief lives, we acknowledge that we won't live forever. To make the most out of our limited powers, we remember that we can't do everything.

When Psalm 103 says that "we are dust," it is pointing back to the Genesis story, where God takes dust and shapes it into Humanity. This doesn't mean we are worthless; on the contrary, because the Master Artist made us "fearfully and wonderfully" (Psalm 139), we are very precious in God's sight. But it does mean that our earthly lives are fragile and impermanent.

To the Psalmist, it's comforting that God sees us as frail creatures shaped from dust. God does not expect too much of us. God is not surprised when we fall short. Like a Father watching his toddler's first steps, God is patient with our efforts, and ready to pick us up when we tumble.

Like a Father watching his toddler's first steps, God is patient with our efforts, and ready to pick us up when we tumble.

Our patience with one another grows when we don't take ourselves or each other too seriously. We are dust. We have blind spots from the way we were raised, and scars from the ways we've been hurt. We're doing our best, counting not on our own efforts but on the Breath of God that can bring dust to life and make the dead live again!

Every Sunday at 10 a.m. we celebrate God's resurrection power at work in those who follow Jesus. April 13 is Palm Sunday (with a breakfast for everyone at 9 a.m.). April 20 is Easter Sunday, with special music and rumors of an Easter Egg Hunt for the K.I.C.K. kids. We're also participating in community events: a Maundy Thursday service at Oak Grove Church of Christ (April 17 at 7 p.m.), a Good Friday service at Christian Church of Waterford (April 18 at 7 p.m.), and a sunrise Easter service on the Ligonier Diamond (April 20 at 6:30 a.m.) Join us as we journey through the story of Jesus' death and resurrection.

--Jonathan