UU Lent is a time of year when Unitarian Universalists can dive into a reflective practice while the harbingers of spring begin to emerge. The first word fo UU Lent is ash—it IS Ash Wednesday for some who follow Christian faith traditions. So this morning I was reflecting on ash and all it can mean, do, represent.
After the fire has burned to ash, what’s left is powdery gray leftovers. Useless, right? You just scrape it away. But don’t toss it yet! Wood ash nutrients are crucial for growth. Mixing it into garden soil—careful, not too much!—will help your new plants spring up healthy and strong.
Yes, it’s a metaphor.
Fire is the element of change, transformation, passion, action, creativity, but too much ash can smother the spark in you. Too little fire in your spirit? There might be no joy or creativity in your life. Too much fire, and you are overly aggressive or burn out quickly.
Sometimes the fire comes from outside you, sweeping through, a wildfire bent on the transformation of your life, your country, your world. All we can do in these scenarios is save the values, traditions and relationships rooted in REAL love. The rest is compost to be used for your continued growth and progress.
Transformation is WILD, scary, and worth it, when you keep love at the center. Let the ash fall away from your spirit. Let it nourish the soil for a future where we all thrive.
🌀Stacia