By Father Ralph Sommer
I’ll have spent a good part of my day on Wednesday putting ashes on people’s foreheads. This practice comes from our Jewish roots where people showed God that they were sorry for their sins by dressing in scratch sackcloth and dumping cold ashes over their heads. We’re much more restrained these days, but the symbolism is the same: “Oh God, we’ve made some unloving choices. Please forgive us and get us back to where we should be again.”
I compare wearing ashes to what happens when our car breaks down and we open the hood and wiggle some wires and somehow smear our faces with the engine grease and dirt. Anyone who looks at us knows that something isn’t right. We explain, “I can’t get anywhere until I get some help to repair what’s broken.”
For Christians, that’s what Lent is really about. Not merely admitting that we’re stuck in some of our not-so-good ways, but working together to get moving again in the right direction.
But regardless of religion, dear reader, I need to point out the “ash” that Levittown is covered with right now. And then offer at least one step to move in the right direction. There are few of us who don’t know the problem of addiction, whether it is in ourselves , family members, neighbors or friends. Some of us know from which houses drugs are being sold, right up our blocks. Some have seen strange cars in front of our homes in which people are drugging themselves. And some have seen those they care about die, sometimes in their arms.
Since I came to Levittown three and a half years ago, I’ve buried 18 people who died from drug overdose. Fourteen of those were parents. I don’t really know how many others I’ve buried because of alcohol addiction. And while I’m shocked every time I speak of these all-too-personal statistics, I am frightened that people aren’t just dying from addictions, but they’re driving, parenting, grandparenting, going to school, cooking our food in restaurants, etc. Emergency room nurses tell me that it’s not uncommon to treat a young person who is overdosing, and then some time later, treat his or her parent.
Apparently some households do drugs together. They certainly drink together, and while drinking alcohol isn’t a sin, driving while under the influence certainly is. Parenting under the influence certainly is. Going to school while under the influence is.
I’m not looking to start a prohibition movement. I’m just pointing out the invisible ashes that are all-too visible to the family members who are affected by people whose lives are being poisoned away. If a local incinerator was indeed letting physical ash settle across Levittown, there would be no end of conversation and outcry. But people avoid talking about the pervasive ash of addictions.
Until now. On Wednesday, March 8 from 7 to 9 p.m., Levittown is invited to talk about the addiction issues that face us. We’ll gather in the Levittown Memorial Education Center (the old Memorial High School behind Abbel Lane School). The police will be there to listen to our safety concerns regarding drugs and alcohol. Members of the school district will be there. Elected officials will be there. Business leaders will be there. I’ll be there. I hope you’ll be there too.
Have you often wanted to say something about what’s going on, but figured that ranting on Facebook was the best you could do? Well, this is your chance to be heard by people who will take what they’ve heard back to their respective agencies. And even if you come without wanting to say anything, this is a good opportunity to really listen to what is going on in our neighborhood.
Ashes, ashes, we’re falling down. It’s time to rise.
