I grew up in a religious tradition that did not pay much attention to Ash Wednesday or Lent.  So the first time I ever saw someone with a cross on their forehead it made me wonder “why ashes?”  Why would someone want to spend the entire day with a black smudge on their face? My immaturity and uniformed self just couldn’t figure out “why ashes!”

It wasn’t until I went to a church that observed Ash Wednesday that I began to appreciate the symbolism as an excellent way to enter into Lent and prepare my heart for Easter.  Ashes have been a part of our human story and a sign of our human condition since the beginning of creation. Ashes were a sign of grief. People often sat in them as a sign of mourning. Ashes were an act of contrition and a reminder of our need for forgiveness. Ashes were removed from the altar in antiquity as an act of worship. Ashes are a symbol of our humanity and mortality for out of dust and ash we were created and to dust and ash we will return. So why not ashes?

Ashes remind us of our mortality. Ashes remind us of our need for forgiveness. Ashes remind us that when something is destroyed by fire, something new will rise up out of the ashes. So why not ashes! Who of us doesn’t want a new start?

If you are thinking right about now, “why not ashes?” then I would like to invite you to First United Methodist Church at 2727 Jackson Street in Alexandria.  I will be doing Drive Thru Ashes in the circle drive on Jackson Street from 11:00 – 1:00 today, Wednesday, March 5. You don’t even have to get out of your car.  Or if you want a little music to go with your ashes, there will be an Ash Wednesday service from 6:00 – 6:30 pm in the sanctuary tonight. Why not ashes as a beautiful start to Lent.

On the journey,

Ramonalynn Bethley

Ramonalynn Bethley is the pastor at First United Methodist Church of Alexandria. If you would like to contact Ramonalynn, you can email her at DrRevRL@fumca.org