ASHES

"Ashes" - by J. Scott McKay, 2009
to the tune "Rhondda" (God of Grace and God of Glory)

At its best / life is a wonder
Nothing promised / most aren’t free
Illness strikes / it is no blunder
All get sick / eventually.
Live today / don’t fret tomorrow
God is God in joy or pain
God is God in joy or pain.

In days past / my limbs obeyed me
They would do / what they were told.
Now are gone / days of dexterity
Body warm / yet muscles cold.
Live today / don’t fret tomorrow
God is God in sun or rain.
God is God in sun or rain.

Sinful ones / do often suffer
It’s no mystery / when they do
Good and evil’s / pain gets rougher
Though we’ve done / the best we knew.
Live today / don’t fret tomorrow
God is God our soul’s to gain.
God is God our soul’s to gain.

Burn the palms / and make the ashes.
Grasping truth / my soul prepares.
Confess sin / my many crashes
And the good / I did not dare
Live today / don’t fret tomorrow
God refines us in our pain.
God refines us in our pain.

Sign the cross / upon my forehead.
Now I want / the world to see
To live fully / face we now our death
Planted feet / and hearts set free.
Live today / don’t fret tomorrow
God is God who will sustain.
God is God who will sustain.

Ashes are / a pure reminder
Where I’m from / where I’ll return
Death in Christ / brings life that is kinder
Heaven’s the gift / we do not earn
Live today / don’t fret tomorrow