Photo by Michael Yamashita

I just love this photograph. I came across it a few days ago and something about it looks so familiar; like I've been there before or A and I have walked that path somewhere along the way. Or maybe it's just the color or the incredible need I have to get outside and go hiking. I don't know but I enjoy it anyway.

So I guess it's Ash Wednesday. I didn't even realize it until my boss said something this afternoon. I don't participate in such things and really don't care to start now. I don't have ashes smeared on my forehead or give up meat or sacrifice something for Lent. He started by asking me if I had plans this evening and after I said I had nothing special planned he asked the question "Do you ever take part in the Ash Wednesday services?" Of course he knows my answer; we've had these conversations before. I've had multiple invitations to come to his church. I always politely decline. But you can almost read the thought of "godless heathen" on his face. Ugh!

All I know is that during my childhood, mom dragged us all from one church to another; almost every possible Christian denomination. The locations may have been different but the people were all the same. She was always looking for something; maybe an answer to her problems or depression or maybe just peace. She lived with the belief that life was hard because it was all a test of faith and the more you endured on earth the greater the reward in heaven. Whatever! Even now she still searches and obviously she still hasn't found what she's searching for in any church or Bible. I guess these days she's settled for searching for it in the bottle of brandy.

But what do I know...I'm just a kid in the grand scheme of things but until you can supply me with some proof, I'm not changing my mind.