Yup, today is the big day….Ash Wednesday when all the Lenten fun begins. I don’t mean to be in the least bit disrespectful of this day. In fact, I revel in it. Bring on those ashes!
Today I’ll be on the go all day to bring ashes to the homebound in our parish. So many can’t get out and appreciate the fact that they can continue to receive communion or to particpate in Ash Wednesday, even if they can’t get out. I appreciate the fact that I was allowed into this Ministry because it’s been the one thing that has managed to keep me together through all my trials.
Lent is that time to work at inner purity that brings us closer to God. It’s not the time to give up food for the express purpose of losing weight. Or, to give up stuff you don’t like anyway. My husband gives up milk every year….he hates milk. In my case, sweets and stuff like that are not that important and too easy to give up, so I try my hand at praying more, doing more work to serve God, and in general, not be a b**ch for the next 40 days. Think that’s easy? Ha! Do you know how bad I wanted to give the finger to the guy behind me this morning who was beeping his horn because my car wasn’t moving out onto the busy highway fast enough for his taste. No….I just smiled and thought to myself, “What a lucky man you are today! Any other day I would have gotten out of my car and shoved your head into the steering wheel.”
All kidding aside, I do love the Lenten Season. I love the prayers, I love the traditions, I love the whole fasting and abstaining. Most of all I love that I can connect with God in a way I struggle to do so the rest of the year. Not to mention, I might even work off some of my purgatory time. Although, something tells me that this blog is going to add a few years or so to my time. Besides, even if I gave up blogging, who would notice? LOL!
So, to all who are Catholic or Christian and doing their Ash Wednesday thing, God bless your hearts. For those who choose the church of Roman Wonderwomanism (I got that from Randal, of course), then throw on those hot pants and repent all those extra pounds you gained this year.
Have a good one!
Will be around sporatically today, lots of people waiting for me to call on them and spread those ashes in a perfect form of the cross. I try to do a clean job, but it’s not easy painting with ashes.
Love you all,
Nunly +:-)
Hi there, Nunly – been thinking a lot about you, too. I’m covered head to foot in ash, and although not exactly loving it, I’m wearing it proudly. All kinds of stuff hitting the fan, and I’m still standing. Email me if you like. Can fill you in on all of it.
Ashes always makes me think of this lovely bit of songcraft. Don’t worry about the finger-flipping of impatient jackasses. Remember, JC got his temple rage on, too. And dude, I’m not wearing hot pants!
Just remember- we are an EASTER people! JOY! JOY! JOY!
We get enough of doom and gloom elsewhere.
Make a joyful noise is not a request. lol
I decided to give up walking on ice for Lent. I may next go outside on Easter Sunday.
You’re a great gal Nunly. I don’t think I could drive anyone anywhere without going all tourrettes while driving. It’s nice to know that there are those like yourself who won’t scare the bejeezus out of our fellow humans.
You are wonderful for doing the work of the church with the homebound folks. Good for you.
Somehow, it does not seem like you will be having any Purgatory time. You just smiled at the honking guy. He probably did not realize it was Ash Wednesday today.
Sorry I didn’t get back to these comments….or the computer yesterday. I had no idea how long my list of homebounder’s was, and didn’t think to add in the drive time and working around their schedules, so I left the house early and didn’t get back until dinner time. I ate….and went to bed. Sheesh, I’m old.
Anyway…..
Anthony!!! I’m glad to see you are still alive and I will be e-mailing you today. Take care and hang in there, kiddo.
Randal, thanks for the music….to be honest, the pic was a lot like my crazy, drug induced dreams. So at least now I know I’m not totally crazy all by myself. Oh…and YOU WILL WEAR HOT PANTS! It’s a requirement. But you can wear the Superman variety. Just put a pair of bvd’s on backwards, that’s what my brother did when he was little and played Superman.
PMM- I was making joyful noises all day long…like, “Where the hell is this address, my gps can’t even find it!” and “Wait….what time did I write down, I know I got it correct, where are these ladies (I found them in the bingo room of their assisted living apartment building.) I search….and I find. No one escapes Nunly carting her ashes on Ash Wednesday…nobody! Bwahahahahhahaha.
Susancrow- That’s why God made ice, because it’s so funny watching us fall on our arses in the winter! He’s gotta have SOME fun messing with us, eh? (Notice how I added the Canadian “eh”, just for you.)
mcnorman–Who said I don’t scare people? Have you ever seen me looking determined in my Habit, while driving my ancient, rusted out SUV? If anyone has a decent car, they steer clear of me. Besides, I’m on drugs now, and they are not condusive to good driving. For some reason, those silly yellow lines start curving all over the place when you least expect it. And those STOP signs! I didn’t know they can appear and disappear like that!
towncrier- You’re so sweet. Thank you. Another beep and he would have realized it was Ash Wednesday because I was about to shove a jar of ashes down his throat. I’d say, “God Bless” as I walked away, of course.
Gee…good thing my deacon boss doesn’t know I have a blog. I think I’d be fired.