Ashes are the picture on the ornament for today. Zimmerman uses Genesis 3:19 to reflect. “By the sweat of your brow will you eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
At first glance it feels like this verse belongs more to the Lenten season than the Advent season. What are we doing bringing up death? It is almost Christmas!
If I think more deeply about it I realize that we could hang a picture of ashes in our line of sight every day. It is a good reminder that we are not going to always be here.
Am I living my life each day as though it were my last, as if I were soon going to die?
The ashes also give me hope. I have hope that there is life after death and that when I die I will be reunited with family members. We will live together in joy once more.
As I hang the ashes ornament on the tree I ponder my death. I also think about the Hope of the resurrection, and Advent and Christmas!
O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness.
The Last Lap (and what comes next) 