PARADISE CORNER

I imposed ashes on Ash Wednesday as I have done for many years before. In fact, 2025 is officially my twenty-fifth year doing imposing ashes. This year, however, I noticed something I hadn’t noticed before. I noticed the grittiness of the ashes. This should not have surprised me. My preference is for “uncut” ashes on Ash Wednesday. (Bonus information: there is debate among pastors about whether the ashes should be mixed with oil or not.) So, the grittiness of the ashes was not a surprise, but I noticed it in a new way this year.
Psychologist Angela Duckworth and her colleagues brought the concept of “grit” to the public with research they published in 2007. They have defined grit as the passionate pursuit of long-term goals. Psycholgy Today shared a list of examples of people with “grit.” These include genius Albert Einstein, legendary Hollywood director Steven Spielberg, rock-and-roll icon Elvis Presley, famous author Stephen King, among others.
Adhering to whatever spiritual practice we may have decided on for ourselves during Lent is a shorter-term goal, but, I think, still requires “grit.” This is especially true when we note that Angela Duckworth’s definition of “grit” includes not only perseverance, but also passion and purpose. Christians usually remember the perseverance required by Lent, but too easily forget the passion and God’s purpose that pushes it into our spirituality each year on the way to Easter.
The Passion of Our Lord is the theological term used to describe Jesus’ suffering prior to and including his crucifixion. This is the point toward which we are moving. But, such passion also includes our dedication and sense of purpose to the bigger realities that we seek to live into after our keeping of Lent brings us to the bright light of Easter. As Christians, all of our passions find their purpose in the Resurrection of our Lord which was God’s way of bringing life that conquered death.
This is another point at which Angela Duckworth’s research can be helpful to us. Having “grit” doesn’t mean you never change course. The journey to Easter through Lent becomes meaningful to
us when we remember that Christ’s gift was staying the course according to God’s purpose. Because Christ has done that work, we are free to find our course as we seek out God’s loving purpose for us and for all of creation.
The gritty ashes of Ash Wednesday opened that door for me this year. Our Lord’s faithfulness reminds me along the Lenten journey that—no matter how my course changes—Christ’s cross helps me hold steady. The God who embraced the grittiness of life and death, provides passion and purpose. God’s grit helps us find our grit so that passion and purpose help us preserve from death to life through Christ, not just at Easter but always.
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Live as children of light!
Pastor Scott Paradise