Today is Ash Wednesday, a time when many protestant denominations fill the pews of their churches for a service of worship. Where they receive communion and ashes on their foreheads as a reminder of our mortality. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Lent is a time to reflect.
I read a story over on Ann Voskamp's Blog about a woman named Ndubaayo, whom she met in Kenya. This woman had walked 26 miles taking 8 hrs, barefoot across hills so that she could hear the Word of God. She learned to read in her language and was able to hear and read the book of John at a church so many miles away.. She did this 5 days a week for 2 years. Take a moment to think about that.
When this Kenyan woman became very ill and eventually bedridden her neighbors wished her to be dead and gone. But she talked to God about those who said she was ill because she gave so much time to Him, and she asked for His courage. As she talked to Him, she heard a voice say, "I hear you and I see you, and I know the goodness that your are doing." And then she heard words she had never known in her life: "Galations, verse 9". She had no understanding of what it meant so when the "church mamas, 40 of them, came to see her she shared it with them. They did not know either since they only had the book of John that had been translated into their language. Someone there actually had an english Bible and they eventually realized Galations was a book in the Bible. They went through all the chapters until they came to 6:9. One woman could read enough English so she translated what it said. "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow wearly." It confirmed what God had told her. She became well and recently Ann Voskamp was able to sit in a church in Kenya and listen to her tell 1,000 people about her story. Only God.
When I read this story to Joel over lunch I could not stop crying. It still brings me to tears. Oh, people, we are so spoiled here in America. We have so many Bibles within our reach and not one of us has to walk 26 miles barefoot to hear the word of God. This woman, Ndubaayo was hungry for the Word of God. She was willing to sacrifice much of her day, her energy, her life to be able to hear it. She understood the importance of God's Word and His presence. Ann Voskamp said when she met Ndubaayo her face was radiate with God's love. Recently the whole Bible became available to Ndubaayo and so many others to read in their own language. When she first received her own Bible? She slept with it on her pillow right next to her.
So here it is, Ash Wednesday. A time when we focus on those days before Good Friday. A time when we focus on God's love for His people and Jesus sacrifice for us. A time when many give up something for Lent....whether it is a food you love or a TV show you just can't miss. Ann Voskamp's story about Ndubaayo, in a small village in Kenya, is there for me, for us to reflect on during this Holy season. I am undone by it. Humbled, repentant, and hungry for more time with God. Shaken by this woman's faith and willingness to sacrifice so much to hear and read God's Word.
As I walk up to the front of the church tonight to receive communion and the pastor puts the sign of the cross on my forehead with ashes, I will hear the words, "Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return" Without Jesus those words would be frightening,wouldn't they, but with Jesus we know that our bodies may be mortal but eternal life awaits us. God's Word came alive in Jesus. I don't think I will ever look at Lent quite the same way again as I think about Ndubaayo's sacrifices for God and His response to her. Would I be so willing? Would you?
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