What are freckles?

Recently I was unwinding at the pool at my apartment building. George, my friend and fellow student at DTS, asked me what was wrong with my legs. Besides the fact that they are pretty stinkin' white, they looked OK to me. George is from China and according to him, asians don't have freckles, so naturally, living in a multi-cultural context, you see, smell (this can be the most shocking and unsettling), and hear strange and different things. Freckles were, until this conversation, one of those new, strange, and different things for George. In very unseminary sounding (i.e. not smart) jargon and pretty unsuccessfully, a couple of us tried to define a freckle for him. "Uh, it's when the sun, er, uh, something about the pigment, or wait, the melanin, uh, they come out in the sun a lot. Look see, I have lots here, but none here because this part (revealing the underside of my forearm, which is even paler than my legs) never sees the sun." We did successfully tell George how to spell the word so of course, he went and WIKIed it. Excellent idea George since apparently I, a freckle sporter all of my days, couldn't really tell ya much about a freckle except that I've got 'em, lots of 'em.

WIKI reported the following to George who then informed me via Facebook:
A freckle is also called an "ephelis." Freckles are rare on infants, and more common on children before puberty; they are less common on adults. Ephelides is a genetic trait. Ephelides are more common in those with light complexions, although are found on people with a variety of skin tones.

I continued the research myself...
Freckles: genetic, can be found on anyone (ah ha, asians aren't immune), triggered by exposure to sunlight which makes them become darker, related to the presence of the dominant melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene variant, predominantly found on the face but can be found anywhere, not a skin disorder (I'm pretty sure this is what George was thinking until we with the help of WIKI enlightened him), will reappear with sunlight if they have been altered with creams or lasers, sunscreen is suggested absolutely necessary (I was a wee freckle-faced girl when I figured this one out!).

So why Freckled Thoughts? Freckles, like thoughts, are random. There might be a series of one or the other with some sort of pattern and then a sudden halt. Some are dim, some are bold. They (still on freckles and thoughts here) can be all over the place, almost invasive, or disappear for a while. They always come back. They can be ugly and in the wrong place. They can be hidden or shared, covered, uncovered, and discovered. And they can be lovely and beautiful. Freckles are enhanced, darkened, and strongest when soaked in the sun. Thoughts are most righteous, pure, and accurate when washed and cleansed by the Son and bathed in the Word.

I've considered keeping a blog for a long time. Something else I considered for a long time...having my freckles removed until I learned that they "will reappear with sunlight if they have been altered with creams or lasers." Obviously I'm starting the former today and will never do the latter.


"When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me.
Every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be.
And I know our Creator didn't make no mistakes on me.
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes; I'm lovin' what I see."
India Arie, Video