As I wrote a few years ago (read here), I have never received ashes on Ash Wednesday. That said, I do understand that it is a meaningful observance for others as they begin Lent.Yet I wonder why churches would offer a fast food version of this observance. Seems strange to me that the bestowing of ashes would be reduced to the level of ordering a Big Mac and fries.
At the risk of sounding crass or profane, I wonder if drive thru baptisms might be the next service that churches will be offering? The sprinkling of water seems no more of a stretch than ashes.
Drive thru for ashes....that sounds crazy to me. I didn't grow up with ashes or doing lent but time between a person and God shouldn't be rushed.
ReplyDeleteGreat point Debby.
DeleteThat drive thru business to me, takes a lot of the meaning out of it! It should be approached with reverence and all focus on God.
ReplyDeleteGood feedback Michelle.
DeleteOf all the things that should not be adapted to modern instant everything, one's spiritual practices should be at the top of the list. "Be still, and know that I am God."
ReplyDeleteGood points vanilla. I sometimes wonder if prayer is often reduced to wishing on a star or rubbing Aladdin's lamp and wanting instant results.
DeleteA woman in our church is suffering from a terminal form of cancer. I manage a "Prayer Chain" which distributes prayer requests by email to about 45 people who have said they would pray. Very easy, and I send out a few a week. But recently her husband asked if we could gather at their house, instead, to pray for her, which I was happy to agree to.
ReplyDeleteSo we've done that twice so far. The first time there were three people present: her husband, my wife, and I. The second we were joined by a few more.
It feels as if we've become so used to "instant everything" that it is now too much trouble to take part of an evening to drive a few miles and pray with others for an hour. Easier just to receive an email and nod a quick "amen" and go on with whatever you were doing.
I absolutely love your thoughts Larry. With all of the fast food religion out there it is refreshing to hear a story like the loving one you shared.
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