Reminder to myself

[urbpan]

(and anyone else that needs it)

Today a lot of people are going to be walking around with black smudges on their foreheads. Don't stare, or tell them they've got a little something there on their face.

Okay, go to work.

Comments

[brunhildevalkyr.livejournal.com]

I remember when I was in college one year I was ushering a performance and this person came in with the little smudge. I'd totally forgotten what day it was, since it has no meaning to me, and I almost said something... until I noticed other people had it as well. Then it dawned on me... :P

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

At least I don't have to do it anymore, which I did at school

[greenminions.livejournal.com]

I forget to until I see it. When I was little I always wanted to wash it off right when I got home from school.

[nutmeg.livejournal.com]

HAHAHAHAHAHAH

Thank you! I DO need that!

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

I heard a story about a Catholic kid who showed up at school with the smudge. One of his Jewish friends grabbed him in the hallway and said, "Hang on!" *rub rub rub* "You had some schmutz on your forehead."

[shadefell.livejournal.com]

When you see one of those smudge-faced people, it's really impolite to sit next to them at lunch with two hamburgergs and go "Oh man, I love meat so much! I got two hamburgers. What are you eating, peanut butter? Want a burger? They're sooooo good. Nice and hot and juicy. Are you sure? Really?"

It's not good for the soul.

Really.

Trust me.

;)

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Oh the poor dears, having to give up meat for what--40 days? It must seem an eternity.

[badnoodles.livejournal.com]

Only for the very, very strictest. Generally, it's only meatless on Fridays.

However, giving something up for Lent (a food or activity) is generally encouraged.

[copperwolf.livejournal.com]

Yes -- what badnoodles said.
Also, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are fasting days for healthy adults, which means no more than one meal and two snacks which together don't sum to a meal.

I think rules were stricter before Vatican II.

[smallerdemon.livejournal.com]

Today a lot of people are going to be walking around with black smudges on their foreheads.

Ahhhh... yes... MUTANTS!

If you stare or mention it, they'll kill you straight away with their lazer vizions!

[miekec]

LOL. it took me a while to figure out what it was you were trying to say. Why would so many people slip on the ice-covered sidewalks/streets and hit exactly their forehead on the grungy snow?

[cowgrrl.livejournal.com]

"There's a little shmootz on your forehead!" Yeah, I said that once -- absolutely mortifying!!

[gwodder.livejournal.com]

What's mortifying about that?

There WAS schmutz on the forehead.

[badnoodles.livejournal.com]

Most wouldn't be offended at all. Having them noticed or being asked about the Ashes is an opportunity to spread the Word of God. At least at the Ash Wednesday homilies I have sat through, people were instructed to encourage people to ask if they didn't know about the practice or understand its meaning.

Thanks for the reminder.

[orejen.livejournal.com]

I have never seen someone wearing the Ash Wednesday "smudge". Before I moved out to the East Coast I lived in Utah (4 years) and Oregon (where I was born). Neither of those areas have a sizable Catholic population.

[ms-cantrell.livejournal.com]

wow - thank you! i would have stared a bit.

[krchicken.livejournal.com]

my favorite interpretation of ash wednesday: a group of my friends sit around and watch movies from The Evil Dead trilogy.

[teratologist.livejournal.com]

I think the forehead smudges hide from me. I grew up in Buffalo and I never remember seeing one until I was in eighth grade, and I didn't notice any today....

[paying-w-mysoul.livejournal.com]

Crazy--I'm quite Catholic, and didn't even know about this smudge thing until today.
hope the Baby Jesus isn't crying somewhere. :)

[lemur-man.livejournal.com]

I read this before there were any comments. I didn't get it and didn't think to ask. Then the first person I saw with a smudge, I though, 'Damn, that woman really scraped her forehead badly on something'.