TODAY IS ASH WEDNESDAY. The Latin words below(English translation just beneath always sent a little chill down my spin when i heard them as a child. When my Mom died and was cremated prior to our burying her ashes with my Dad in Oklahoma though, I remember my sister and I picking up her ashes at the local funeral Meménto, homo, quia pulvis es, et in púlverem revertéris (Remember man that thou art dust--and unto dust thou shall return. When I was a kid, hearing those words, always sent a little chill up my spine. It seemed to be a long way off though, and was easily put out of my mind--except again, on Ash Wednesday (today), when Id hear those same awful words yet again. Then, I remember going with my sister to the local funeral home about two days after my mothers funeral Mass to pick up her ashes which would be taken back and buried with my Dad. As I walked back to our car, carrying a small plastic container that held all the mortal remains of what once had been my Mom, those words came into my mind as never before. In my hands was all that remained on earth of what had once been an active woman with a life, a job she once was good at, sisters and brothers, a husband, and 2 daughters. I held what was left of a person who thought thoughts, enjoyed going out for brunch and loved to write stories and was now relegated to 5 pounds or less of dirt. Ten days before, she and I had argued politics and spoke of our mutual love for Texas and our family. Yet, on that day, I carried less than 5 pounds of dirt--dirt that had once contained a woman who had brought me into the world-- out to my car. One day in the all too near future it will be me carried out of a funeral home by someone who gets stuck with the task. All that is left on earth of me will be in a plastic container that holds less than 5 pounds of dirt. How long will anyone even remember who I was, how my voice sounded, what and who I loved best--my good qualities and my bad ones, what I did for a living? How long will anyone remember if I once helped them--or if I failed to do so? My kids lives will go on as before. How long will anyone even care what once made me happy or broke my heart? Not long, I assure you---I have no illusions on that one! Then, one day--not long from now either---it well be my own kids carried out of a funeral home the very same way--and soon their memories will be lost to history too. Life is short at best. Its probably worth thinking some about what will happen to the part of you that will remain alive and not be in that small plastic box. Because the part in that box certainly doesnt amount to much--- romanchristendom.blogspot/2011/03/ash-wednesday-remember-man-that-thou.html
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 12:48:52 +0000
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