Ashes

I am used to people pointing out the ashes on my forehead each Ash Wednesday. “Do you know that you’ve got something there?” they ask while pointing to their own forehead. “Where’d you get the ashes?” “Do you wear that every day?” … I politely answer the questions and take the opportunity to catechize the person regarding the purpose of the ashes and the meaning of Lent.
This year one of my colleagues surprised me with a new one around lunch time when he stopped by my office. “How long do you wear those?” he asked as he wiggles his index finger in front of his forehead.
“For the rest of the day.”
“Oh good,” he replies as he turns to leave.
“Why?” I inquire after him.
He returns and says, “We’ve got a bet.” And points towards the office of our newest faculty member.
“What did she say?” I wonder, assuming that it had to do with the length of time that I would be wearing the ashes.
“Oh, I bet that you’d have ashes today. She obviously doesn’t know you, not that I know you well. But I knew you'd have ashes.”
Later they both stopped by my desk so that said faculty member could see the grey cross on my forehead. I did get the opportunity to explain the Lenten rules of fasting and abstinence and to reiterate why I would not be at Happy Hour.
+:-)