The Day I was Really Happy I had Bangs...

better known as Ash Wednesday. I attended Catholic elementary school Kindergarten through 6th grade. On Ash Wednesday, we would attend Mass at 9AM. By 10AM, we were on our way back to school, with crosses on our foreheads, and us girls trying to arrange our bangs to cover up the crosses. I guess no one told us that little cross was an outward sign of who was on the inside; that it connected us as individuals with millions of others around the world. More than likely, we were told that and the 10-year-old me didn't get it (my worldview at the time barely reached beyond the end of my nose). Today, if our church's service was at 9AM instead of 6:15 PM, would the 30-year-old me act differently than the 10-year-old me? Would I proudly sweep my bangs of to the side? Smile at the stares of strangers? Answer "Yes. It is a cross of ashes"? I really don't have a choice - I don't have bangs anymore.





This is the first day of our Lenten Blog. Check back everyday but Sunday for another entry. If you would like to participate (original entries and previously printed poems, pictures, devotions are all welcome) please email Kari. Visit our Advent blog to get a feel for what we are doing.




These are photos of me burning the palms from Palm Sunday.