A Reflection on "Ashes to Go"

Yesterday, I, like many of my colleagues throughout the Episcopal Church participated in an event called “Ashes to Go.”  “Ashes to Go” is an event that enables folks who can’t make it to church on Ash Wednesday to receive the imposition of ashes. All over this country and in many places abroad, folks received ashes on street corners, at train stations, in coffee houses and, in our case, a parking lot.  Yesterday, the snow covered black top of our parking lot on East Quaker became holy ground for two hours as folks encountered moments of grace in the midst of hectic, crazy lives.  God was alive and present in each of those encounters.

My thumb after a hard days work!

All in all, we gave out ashes to more than 140 folk through our “Ashes to Go” event. 

What I realized yesterday, which I already knew with my head, was that even as church attendance has been sliding, there is still a deep desire by those beyond our doors to connect with God.  Again and again as folks wiped tears away or profusely thanked us for braving the frigid temperatures, I saw a deep spiritual hunger in folks that can only be filled by God. People wanted moments of connection, moments of grace, and moments of peace that only God can provide. 

This is my third year participating in “Ashes to Go” and again I was awed by the presence of Jesus in each of those holy encounters.  What a privilege it is to serve Christ and serve my neighbors.   As I reflect on “Ashes to Go,” I wonder how else might we feed the spiritually hungry beyond the doors of our churches?