Ashes to go? I don't think so
Today is Ash Wednesday, and the Christian world (especially here in the states) is plagued by a relatively recent innovation in church 'services' called affectionately by its proponents- "ashes to go". I'll let the reader soak that in for a minute. Yes, clergy will stand on street corners throughout the nation to administer ashes to people who happen by and want to receive them. Many have argued that this extends the Christian message and Lenten observance to more and more people, but does it really? Or does it rather cheapen the sign and symbol of what those precious ashes actually represent? The ashes we receive today are taken from burning the palms we blessed the previous Palm Sunday. In that, they symbolize both the mortality of humanity's actions; as well as how quickly our voices of praise and celebration can turn to dust and be lost to the winds of time. How loudly we exclaimed "Hosanna" to the savior, only to turn our ...