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?
