A preacher friend posted this list. I laughed till I nearly wet myself. Now all of his preacher friends are re-posting it. Dave, it's gone viral. You're going to be famous, man!
10. No braving the malls looking for Lent gifts
9. No pressure to send “Merry Ash Wednesday” cards
8. No explaining why using chi-rho isn’t “X-ing Jesus out” of Lent
7. No dominion-ist fundagelicals trying to fight culture wars by putting “Jesus resisting temptation in the wilderness” displays on public property
6. No celebrity holiday albums
5. No Ash Wednesday sitcom specials
4. No saccharine email forwards about “the true meaning” of Ash Wednesday
3. No tacky Ash Wednesday sweaters
2. “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return” extremely difficult to use in consumer marketing strategies
1. Nobody ever says, “Ash Wednesday is really all about the children.”
others have added:
* No holiday letters bragging about your kids' report cards, your travels, or your promotions.
* No Ash Wednesday tree to decorate.
* (Actually, I think a card with some ashes in it might be nice....)
10. No braving the malls looking for Lent gifts
9. No pressure to send “Merry Ash Wednesday” cards
8. No explaining why using chi-rho isn’t “X-ing Jesus out” of Lent
7. No dominion-ist fundagelicals trying to fight culture wars by putting “Jesus resisting temptation in the wilderness” displays on public property
6. No celebrity holiday albums
5. No Ash Wednesday sitcom specials
4. No saccharine email forwards about “the true meaning” of Ash Wednesday
3. No tacky Ash Wednesday sweaters
2. “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return” extremely difficult to use in consumer marketing strategies
1. Nobody ever says, “Ash Wednesday is really all about the children.”
others have added:
* No holiday letters bragging about your kids' report cards, your travels, or your promotions.
* No Ash Wednesday tree to decorate.
* (Actually, I think a card with some ashes in it might be nice....)
Pentecost is another holiday the world hasn't yet figured how to co-opt... Put Dave's imagination to work on why Pentecost might just be as impossible to "sell" as Ash Wednesday/Lent.
Posted by: Larry Douglas Baskin | February 18, 2010 at 23:59