“Remember Him—before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring...” (Ecclesiastes 12:6).

‍

This is an Ash Wednesday piece. In chapter 12 of Ecclesiastes, the author uses several strange metaphors for death. One of these metaphors is a pitcher being shattered at the spring. This particular metaphor was the inspiration for Dust. Suddenly, like death, an old clay vessel hurls to meet a rocky bank. Life ends. The spring—here a raging river—gushes and pushes through rugged terrain. It does so year after year. People come and go, but the raging river continues its push. In a hundred years from now will anyone here remember my name? Will my estate be overgrown... leveled? Will the One who formed me in the “secret place” keep record? I am compelled to know Him before the pitcher is shattered at the spring.

‍

“All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return” (Ecclesiastes 3:20).

‍