It’s the beginning of Lent on our Calendar of Faith & I am pleased to announce  it took me only about 3 minutes to be told “Hey, you have something black on your forehead!”  

“No? Do I realllly???”

Giggles.

It’s okay. We Catholics know how to politely play the game! But truthfully I usually do forget the Ashes are on me. It takes me a moment to remember people are not staring at me because I’m “ridiculously good-looking” like Zoolander, or that I’ve forgotten to comb my hair before leaving the house (this may or may not have happened before.) But instead it’s the big black smudge mark on my forehead which causes the furrowed foreheads & raised eyebrows starring back at me.

I have found it best to simply “embrace the Ash” I’m wearing,  no matter the color or size of the black cross. It’s rather beautiful becoming ‘calendar reminders’ to those who pass by and declare, “I forgot today is Ash Wednseday!” (I heard this at least 3 times this morning walking through the airport between gates.) Not to mention the wonderful boldness of those at the hospital who smiled & stopped to ask during my Communion Rounds, “Are you giving out Ashes too?”

You meet people.

Others smile at you.

And of course there are the ones who rub at their own forehead hoping to signal to you again, “Hey, you have something black on your forehead.” 

“No? Do I realllly?”

Giggles.

hugs n’ blessings to all the #ashtags out there sporting their symbols of faith!!