I’m not a practicing Catholic, but I’m a believer. One practice I have continued on with is receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday. It’s the beginning of the Lent Season and an opportunity to make positive changes in my life. For those unfamiliar with Lent, for 40 days you give up something, make a sacrifice, whether it’s quit drinking pop, quit smoking, or not eating meat, etc. At this moment I haven’t given anything up yet. I quit smoking almost 2 years ago, I don’t drink pop and I’ve been eating healthy since the beginning of this year, so I think my focus should be on improvements.
Early this morning, I went to St. Peter’s Church in downtown Chicago. Since it was early, there wasn’t much of a line to receive ashes, so I approached a priest, smiled and knelt down. He dug his thumb into the ashes, pressing on and down my forehead while saying, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Then digging his thumb again into the ashes, he pressed and swipe across saying, "Turn away from sin, and be faithful to the Gospel." When I got to work and saw myself in the mirror, it looked like I got in a fight with an ashtray and lost. Ashes sprinkled my nose and cheeks with a high concentration on my forehead. I’m guessing the priest; 1) detected my sinful ways; 2) had a bet with another priest on how dark they could make the cross; or 3) knew I hadn’t given anything up yet for Lent.
Today, I shall start the Lenten season by not criticizing, especially the priest who felt the need to clean his thumb off on my forehead. I also hope to minimize my complaints and judgments of others.
Early this morning, I went to St. Peter’s Church in downtown Chicago. Since it was early, there wasn’t much of a line to receive ashes, so I approached a priest, smiled and knelt down. He dug his thumb into the ashes, pressing on and down my forehead while saying, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Then digging his thumb again into the ashes, he pressed and swipe across saying, "Turn away from sin, and be faithful to the Gospel." When I got to work and saw myself in the mirror, it looked like I got in a fight with an ashtray and lost. Ashes sprinkled my nose and cheeks with a high concentration on my forehead. I’m guessing the priest; 1) detected my sinful ways; 2) had a bet with another priest on how dark they could make the cross; or 3) knew I hadn’t given anything up yet for Lent.
Today, I shall start the Lenten season by not criticizing, especially the priest who felt the need to clean his thumb off on my forehead. I also hope to minimize my complaints and judgments of others.
