JEANNE BRAGG, Post Columnist
Posted: Sunday, February 21, 2010 6:07 am

I went to church for Ash Wednesday this week.

If I’ve ever missed an Ash Wednesday, I can’t remember it.

Ash Wednesday is the somber day in Western religions that signifies the beginning of Lent. It is the day after Grey Tuesday (Mardi Gras) which celebrates the last chance to “eat, drink and be merry” before the 40 days of Lent begin. These 40 days signify Christ’s fasting in the desert prior to his crucifixion.

Evidenced by the hoards of people at church, not many other Catholics missed Ash Wednesday either. You know how the church is always full on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day? Well, that’s what an Ash Wednesday looks like. Each service on this day is packed to the gills. We Catholics know we’re a sinning bunch.

I remembered this morning that I was in New York City last year, although I don’t remember which church I attended (I have several favorites there). I was astonished at the number of people walking down the streets who had big ashen crosses on their forehead. Putting ashes in the shape of a cross on the forehead is a ritual to remind man that he “is dust, and unto dust he shall return.”

Truly it seemed like one out of every 10 people had ashes; a big surprise since every third person in that city appears to be German or Russian.

It’s not just Catholics who observe Lent. I have several non-Catholic friends who observe this as a time of self-reflection.

I had not decided if I wanted to “give anything up” for Lent this year, but was inspired by Father Mark Sappenfield’s encouragement to “pray, sacrifice and give alms.” Simple enough goals.

And while I don’t mean to sound “preachy,” I am merely making an observation on customs. And my point here is that anytime is a good time for self-reflection, and it seems appropriate that this reflection comes at the beginning of the year when some are still working on bettering themselves with New Year’s resolutions anyway. Lent gives us a time to examine ourselves, understand our mortality and “forgive trespasses,” which is what the Golden Rule is all about.

When I was young, attending Catholic schools, the peer pressure to give up something was omnipresent; therefore, you really gave up something.

I’ve fluctuated in recent years.

Sitting next to me at church this morning were Madge and Dr. Charlie Lewis.

If you know Dr. Lewis, retired respected pediatrician, you know that he has been battling stomach cancer since May. In fact, doctors initially gave him only a few months to live. But with the help of Dr. John Barton and physicians at M.D. Anderson in Houston, he is fighting it. He looks great from physical appearances.

When I asked him how he felt he said, “I got up and saw the grass this morning, so I’m doing great!” He acted like he meant it. He did have a “fanny pack” around his waist that apparently delivers chemotherapy on a regular basis. It didn’t look like much fun.

As we knelt there, side-by-side, I wondered what kind of prayers Madge and Charlie were saying. If anyone understands what “facing mortality” means, it’s Charlie.

I wondered if they would be “giving up” anything for Lent — besides suffering.

I wondered if all those things people have sacrificed in the previous years have made a difference when the things that really matter are right in front of you.

I hope Dr. Charlie’s around for a whole lot longer so I can ask him.

‘Til next week.