The clerk behind the desk at the yoga studio has ashes on her forehead. This is unexpected. Yoga studios have kind of eastern leanings. The ashes look out of place and make me uncomfortable. It's so public.
The kind-of-eastern-yoga-students ask, "Aren't those marks only for Catholics?" "No", the clerk replies, "Protestants can also receive ashes." The kind-of-eastern inquirer asks, "Why do you wear them in public?"
The yoga clerk explained about witness to Christian community. I am even more uncomfortable.
What is it about this public display that makes me squirm? Isn't our personal spirituality supposed to be kept private in the bedroom? Certainly it doesn't need to show up on our skin or in other public forums.
I know it is weird. But it's like Jews wearing a yarmulke or Muslims praying. Christians no longer have anything thats an outward sign, so there ya go.
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