One: Dust

Ash Wednesday. The day we hear "remember you are dust and to dust you shall return" as the ashes are imposed on our foreheads in the sign of the cross.

But this is not the dust I'm thinking about today. For some reason this morning, I noticed the dust in my house - on the bookshelves, the pictures, the tv. And the cobwebs! It's really out of control. Someone needs to do something about that. But I hate dusting. I don't like it one bit!

And then, this...

Humans and animals come to the same end—humans die, animals die. We all breathe the same air. So there’s really no advantage in being human. None. Everything’s smoke. We all end up in the same place—we all came from dust, we all end up as dust. Nobody knows for sure that the human spirit rises to heaven or that the animal spirit sinks into the earth. So I made up my mind that there’s nothing better for us men and women than to have a good time in whatever we do—that’s our lot. Who knows if there’s anything else to life?    Ecclesiastes 3:19-22

Have a good time whatever we do? 

Even dusting? 

So I put on some tunes, got out a dustcloth, and got to work. 

I dusted a magic box that emanated music even though moments before it had teleported me back in time through sights and sounds. This same device can tell me the weather, exhibit family memories, or just sit there collecting dust, which it's very good at being a big black immobile box and all. Then I moved on to photos and paintings and shelves filled with books. All these wonderful things we love to have around because they add joy to our lives. 

Along the way I found myself dusting things that were just that- dust collectors. So I found a bag and loaded them in as I came across them. I'll drop them at the thrift shop later. 

Through the simple, yet admittedly still tedious, task of dusting, I was able to marvel at modern technology, appreciate the things that bring joy and beauty to my surroundings, and let go of things that are no longer serving my needs or wants. 

And I had a good time doing it. 

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Forty Days: In Thought, Word, and Deed