Ash Wednesday is supposed to mark the beginning of Lent. Instead, some Catholics use Ash Wednesday as a way to mark how good of a Catholic they are. "Look at me, I have ashes... I must be a good Catholic!"
First of all, if you DO go to get Ashes at church on Ash Wednesday, I can honestly say that is awesome. The fact that you go out of your way to make it to church in the middle of the week is amazing.
However...
Ash Wednesday services are generally mass. Like with the Holy Eucharist. Like not just Ashes. To kick off Lent, you should WANT to dedicate a little time to thinking about the next 40 days and the anticipation of Christ's passion. Driving by the church to simply get Ashes or coming to the Ash Wednesday Liturgy and leaving before Communion... does that really make you a "good Catholic?"
This Ash Wednesday I encourage everyone to stop the "Ash and Dash," stop trying to get "Drive Thru Ashes," and take time for yourself and your faith. Slow down. Go to mass. Pray for the upcoming 40 days. Any time to slow down and breathe in this crazy world is good. And using your faith as an excuse to do that is even more fantastic.
**Also Fun Fact- I am giving up Pepsi this Lent and so are my office-mates CC and LL (actually LL likes Coca-Cola so she's giving up that.) So stand by for updates on how the weaning off and withdrawal processes are going.