Ash Wednesday is full of joy. “The source of all sorrow is the illusion that of ourselves we are anything but dust.” – Thomas Merton
No matter your faith, Merton reminds us that today’s somber rituals aren’t meant to weigh us down with guilt, but to free us from illusion. When we remember that “we are dust,” it’s not really a sad statement - rather an invitation to humility, gratitude, and perspective.
Ash Wednesday joy should point us back to something greater than ourselves. It’s easy to get stuck in our own heads and our own egos. So today, lift yourself up a bit higher and think of the greater good.