Ash Wednesday

Michelangelo’s David is a masterpiece from 500 years ago that can still speak to us now. Not only can we stand in awe of the statue, but we can also stand in awe of the story of it’s creation. Michelangelo carved David in the style of Disegno, which means that he could feel David’s soul in the marble. He even said he could feel it clamoring to be set free. All that Michelangelo had to do was to remove the pieces that were holding David in the marble. By eliminating these unnecessary pieces, a masterpiece was revealed.

Can we experience this same effect in our lives? Are there things that need to be removed or eliminated in order to be the masterpiece that God created in you?

As Curt Magnuson has so easily demonstrated for us in his carving skills. Something that is so familiar and simple can become something that is astounding. He carved these watermelons during the Ash Wednesday service, lighting them up at the end of the time. I remember sitting there, not too impressed, until he turned the lights on. Curt knew exactly what to remove and where to remove it from. He practiced this Art of Elimination in an astounding way. Thank you Curt for being an example for us all.

As we start up this season of Lent and as we realize our fallen self and the need for a Savior, maybe we can find what is holding us back from God’s glory. Rob Bell, a pastor and author, calls this the Art of Elimination. This is the process of eliminating those things that are not meant to be there in order to become who you were created to be.

But sometimes this process of elimination is going to hurt a little. One of the biggest untruths I have ever heard was that being a follower of Christ guarantees an ease to life. I contend that really it should guarantee hard times. Jesus talks about carrying our crosses daily. To me that is not an easy image. It is something that requires effort, struggle and pains. Jesus came to change this world and we are commanded to continue with his mission to change - change our attitudes, our outlooks and this world.

So what is it that you need to remove this Lenten season?

What are parts of your Watermelon do you need to cut away?

Pete Smith