Ashes to Ashes

God of Ashes
a year ago we waved these palms
praising Your name
promising to follow You.
Today we hold the debris–
the dust of our failed promises
our lost dreams
our unmet wishes.
We mark our foreheads
to remind ourselves
we are but ash.
But God of Ashes
Your creation comes from ash
and Your breath.
For You breathed life into
the dust and dirt
and said it was good.
From debris
came beauty and new life.
Mark us today with Your ash
and fill us with Your breath.
Grant us traveling mercies
in the Lenten desert
as we too head toward resurrection.