I applaud anyone who has the courage of their convictions and will show their faith in this sort of way. Unfortunately it isn't always done with the best of motives.

A few years ago, when I worked in an office, one of the men went to an Ash Wednesday service at lunchtime and came back with the ashes on his forehead.

Now, this was a guy who rarely moved away from his desk, had no need, or, it seemed, inclination to interact with most of the office the majority of the time. That particular afternoon he made a point of drifting round the office striking up conversation with each of the groupings.

I guess that he really wanted people to ask what the ashes were for - I knew and so ignored it and he moved away to find other victims.