Ash Dash, the Christian version of Door Dash
Door Dash, I am told is quite a popular app for many people, especially people who are younger than I am. Apparently it was founded more than a decade ago, but I never heard of it until the COVID pandemic. I first heard of it when I received a pop-up ad requesting that I send in a resume to be a Door Dash driver. Friends of mine, whom I mentioned this to, seemed astounded that I had never heard of this company. Maybe I live under a rock, but I hadn’t.
I must give a shout-out to Door Dash. This company kept many restaurants alive during the COVID plague when few people were willing to gather in public places. Since the plague has largely left us, this company continues to thrive as people have discovered the convenience of being able to enjoy a restaurant meal in the comfort of their own homes. I don’t know who invented this company, but those people certainly had foresight. Bringing a food product to people who were unable or too anxious to get it for themselves is a fine idea.
Door Dash, for me, is the culinary equivalent of the Old Sears catalogue, or more recently, Amazon. In the age of catalogues and in the age of Amazon, virtually any product can be delivered to any person anywhere. It is a wonderful business model, and it reminds me of the marketing model used by sports. Not everyone can get to a stadium, nor can a stadium hold everyone who might want to attend an athletic contest. Radio and television allow fans to experience a game that they cannot attend. I have read that when baseball games were first broadcast on the radio, it was feared that attendance would drop. The opposite was true. Interest grew as more fans gained access.
Churches have adopted this concept also, but sometimes with less regularity and perseverance than the secular world. Forty years ago, I was taught by my mentors that bringing communion to those who cannot attend church is really important and I have tried to fulfill live up to that teaching. The practice brings us out of our sanctuaries and brings the love of Christ to parish members. This is good, but not enough.
Another tradition that I have followed over the years is bringing ashes to the public each year on Ash Wednesday. Many times, I have heard from Christian people that people would not be interested in ashes. Some folks have tried to discourage me from this practice saying that it was a waste of my time. That has not been my experience. I have always found many people appreciative of the offer to receive ashes. A number of strangers whom I have met on the street and offered ashes to have been deeply moved by the receiving them. Had I waited for them to come into the church, they never would have received the ashes.
I wonder how many other folks haven’t come inside our congregations but would love to hear about the love of God. Some folks desperately need to hear this word but for various reasons, won’t come into our sanctuaries. It is time for all of us to take God’s love into the marketplace regularly. A hurting world needs us. Let’s get out of our sanctuaries and into the world. Ash Dash should only be the beginning.