Sitting in Ashes

Tonight we went to our church's Ash Wednesday service. As usual, it was very moving to me. Our sermon was on how at different points in our lives, we might find ourselves sitting in ashes. This can be caused by several bad events piling on top of each other. While we are sitting in this pile of ashes, we don't always see God working for us. All we see is the bad and we are left wondering if something good will ever come of it. Everything in this crazy life happens for a reason... even the bad things. We must have faith that God will bring us up from our despair and one day we will see the reason behind the pain.
Our minister used several different examples of how people have come out of their pile of ashes. He told the story of a man who owned a chicken business by the highway. One day the all mighty interstate was built and his business dwindled as more cars took to the new infrastructure. All he had left from his life was a social security check and the poor, old man considered turning to a life of crime. Instead, he took that social security check, some of his famous fried chicken and founded something that we know as KFC today. Its hard to imagine Colonel Sanders as a criminal.
He also told the story of Hannah. Her life was a plie of ashes as she had no son. One day God answered her prayer and gave her Samuel, who she gave back to Him. All of her suffering through infertility led to one of the greatest man of God in the Old Testiment, but she was unable to see this while she was suffering.
On Ash Wednesday, we need to remember that God does have a plan. There may be several difficult things going on in your life right now, but we as weak humans, cannot always see the bigh picture and the plans that God has for us. Do not lose faith. Spend this time of lent in prayer and seeking Him. All will be revealed in due time.