Fasting vs. Feasting

Lent is often a time when people give up things.  I did not grow up with that custom and find it very difficult.  I’ve never been good at giving things up or letting go of things.  It is very difficult.  Adding things to my life is so much easier as it may be with you.  That is why a poem by Anne Fonatine, an Episcopal priest in Wyoming, resonates so well with me this Lenten season.  The poem is in  a book she wrote that is on my “To Read Soon” list named Streams of Mercy.   On her blog she wrote:

“Let us show forth the holiness of our Creator, so people will know that we are a holy people - committed to God and followers of Jesus Christ.

“How might we do this? I suggest we move beyond chocolate to declare our own fast —“

Below is her poem with her words and some of mine as I personalized it to my situation.

May we begin:

FASTING FROM                             FEASTING ON

COMFORT FOODS                       COMFORTING WORD OF CHRIST                                                 AND OTHERS

MEAN THOUGHTS                       POSITIVE THOUGHTS

APATHY                                   EDUCATION/GETTING INVOLVED

ANXIETY/WORRY                      PATIENCE/LETTING GOD

BUSYNESS                               BE – ING

IDLENESS                                ACTS OF KINDNESS

BUYING FOR ME                       BUYING FOR OTHERS

SCARCITY                                ABUNDANCE

JUDGING                                 COMPASSION

FEAR                                       PEACE

LIES/FIBS/WHITE LIES               SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE

UNHAPPINESS                           THANKFULNESS

NOISE                                      SILENCE

GRUDGES                                 GRACE

In doing so we draw closer to Christ who we journey with this Lenten season through his times with his disciples to his prayers in a garden to his trial and death and finally his resurrection and ascension into heaven where he awaits us.  Let us continually strive to become all God has created us to be. 

From what will you fast?      

On what will you feast?

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