Spiritual Touchstone: Being Church at BART
SPIRITUAL TOUCHSTONE:
Being Church at BART
By Rev. Dr. Melinda V. McLain
(Left to Right) Pastors Jen Chapman, Melinda V. McLain, Joanne Whitt, Dee Emmert, & GTUCC member Joyce Hedges (front)
This past Wednesday, a local group of clergy braved the rain and wind to offer the blessing of ashes at BART during the evening rush hour. Since I came to Mira Vista (now The Good Table UCC) in 2014, this is only the third time we have gathered at El Cerrito Del Norte station to offer ashes to commuters because pandemic concerns made us stop this public offering for three years. This year, we were one Lutheran, one Presbyterian and two UCC pastors. I heard on the clergy grapevine that the Methodists were at Richmond BART doing the same.
Like some of the folks coming off BART trains, you might ask, why would we do this? One woman, in fact, told me she was going to church later, but she didn’t think we should be “promoting” to the public. I said I didn’t think of it as “promoting”, but simply offering this particular (and perhaps peculiar?) Christian practice as a convenience. Her comment was the only slightly negative comment I received.
Most folks just walked past us as we stood with ashes on our freezing fingers. But others saw us and rushed toward us with gratitude and thanks. For too many Roman Catholics, in particular, for whom the receiving of ashes at the beginning of Lent is an obligation, getting to their local parish is difficult when working two or three jobs and caring for a family.
Because we were obviously clergy (wearing collars, robes, and stoles aka “full liturgical drag”) and clearly all women, I don’t think they had any delusions that we are Catholic, but clearly their belief in this ritual and the grace it bestowed was unbowed by ancient animosities between protestants and catholics.
If I caught someone’s eye and got a smile, I would say, “would you like to receive the blessing of ashes for Ash Wednesday?” That led quite a few who probably didn’t know what this ritual meant to step forward and offer their foreheads as I leaned in as said, “remember you are dust and to dust you shall return. May God bless you and keep you all the days of your life.” Others of course, politely said, “no thank you” and went on their way.
All together, we probably blessed at least 100 folks or more and one woman even returned with her husband and son to receive ashes together as a family. While receiving ashes from unknown clergy as you rush off BART may not be a “deep” spiritual experience, I choose to believe that everyone deserves a moment of blessing and that these unexpected twinklings of grace could have a cumulative impact on our communities whether you identify as Christian, or not.
We are all human and we are dust. We are stardust. We are the beloved of the Creator’s handiwork. My this Lenten season be filled with grace-filled blessings, no matter what train you are riding this day.