Ash Wednesday

You are dust, and to dust you shall return.

I know that it's really weird to say, but Lent and Ash Wednesday are probably my favorite holidays of the year.  Last year, I failed at my lenten resolution...but, don't worry, Jesus is a pretty forgiving dude.  

I'm not sure why I like Lent so much.  I think it is because Lent is a challenge.  Lent is participatory, and I don't think that Lent has been co-opted like other holidays.  Arguing that Christmas is anything but commercial is...challenging. What part of American society advocates going without?  Our society is focused on conspicuous consumption, so it's nice to peace out of that mindset for a solid 40 days.

This Lent, I am giving up:

-television

-groupons

-binge eating

I'm excited about the whole schpeel, and 2 days into Lent...I have yet to watch television or stress eat.  Which is pretty awesome.  

Getting ashes on ash wednesday is weird, because all of a sudden....people want to comment on your face.  Don't get me wrong, I normally like to be noticed...but, I don't like to be in the position of educating people about my faith.  Especially, since I'm a beige Catholic.  (Thank you, Father Andrew Greeley.)

This was actually the best ash job that I ever got.  Can you call it an ash job?

Also, I probably should have realized that getting ashes and then going off to a job fair....was going to be awkward.  One student literally just stopped and stared at my head, looked around, and then started to wipe his forward.  When I explained that I was Catholic, he responded "me too..."  With a perplexed look, he told me that I had stuff on my face.  #catholicfail

Another woman came up to me and started to pray.  I'm not really comfortable with public prayer.  I love Jesus, but I love Jesus in my own private way.  I don't need people to be all up in my biz-nass... especially, whenever I am recruiting at a job fair. Bitch, didn't get the job.  She was not able to read people well. 

After the recruitment fair, I went and volunteered at One Colorado, which is advocating for marriage equality in Colorado.  As Catholics have threatened to remove all aid if civil unions...it was weird to walk in the door and be greeted with some stank face.  But, I made really awesome press folders, and everyone was okay with it.  Well, to my face at least.

All in all, it was a pretty solid day.  I'm excited to continue on with the season, attend church, increase my almsgiving, and learn to go without.  It should be a pretty epic adventure.

Also--since I'm not watching tv anymore, this blog is going to be blowing up.  I'd get excited for my meanderings too.