A Leaven In The World . . . Lent, Ben Sasse, And Memento Mori
Lent is upon us once again and with it another opportunity for grace and conversion. This most penitential season begins on Ash Wednesday with the stern admonition, “Meménto, homo, quia pulvis es, et in púlverem revertéris.” “Remember, man, you are dust.” “Remember, man, you will die.” For many public figures on the internet it has become fashionable to sport the ashen cross on the forehead each year as Lent begins. It adds a note of seriousness or gravitas, I suppose, to their blog videos and internet feeds. Ben Sasse is dying. As are we all. Only he has less time on earth. A lot less. He’s been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and his body is riddled with tumors. He takes morphine to dull the pain as the cancer attacks his spine. For those like Ben it’s more than a cross on the forehead. For those like him it’s a growing and mortal pain that reminds him each moment of his life remaining — that he
