Gathering dust

But is life also to be like that gathering dust? On Ash Wednesday the liturgy in the Church reminds people: “You are dust and to dust you will return”.

Obviously this is a reference to the creation story in the book of Genesis in the Bible, chapter II. Though we may be dust we are noble dust because God has endowed us with an intelligence and free will. We have an intelligence to know and recognise God and all the creatures of the world created by his wisdom and goodness. With this intelligence we do come to know many things and discover new marvels in the world and learn about the principles that seem to make this world go round and round. There are also times when we fail to use this intelligence and even misuse it to destroy ourselves and also others. It is then that this noble dust becomes useless and the gathering dust turns into dirt. Free will is another of God-given gifts that we are called to use so that our choices make us truly noble and grow up to greater heights of joy and happiness for ourselves and others. When we choose what is right we feel comfortable and there is nothing to worry us to death. But when the choice is morally wrong and sometimes demeaning then the voice of our conscience demands that we repent and reverse our wrong choice while it is still possible.If on the contrary we suppress the voice of conscience and stand by our wrong choice we begin to decay morally. Then indeed it is true that the dust we are is gathering more dust to be dirt fit to be washed off the floor.

Jesus reflecting on the wrong choices Judas Iscariot, his betrayer was making in spite of many warnings Jesus had given him directly or indirectly, said during his last supper with the disciples: “...the Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born” (Mark 14.21). Regrets apart, facts are facts and our human life goes on in spite of all its ups and downs. But why do you want to let dust gather in your life? Should it not be better that you fulfil what you were born in this world for? You do not know you say; but ask of God in humble prayer and he will tell you which way to turn in your life.
Trust in God’s goodness and wisdom that can lead you to be greater than what you are!