The Lenten Journey

Last weekend our scripture reading told the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, and I suggested that a key to that story was that the temptation was preceded by 40 days of prayer and fasting. I asked you to imagine taking 40 days and nights to pray, to join your spirit and will to the spirit and will of God, and to think about what temptations you might overcome after 40 days of dwelling with God. I asked you to imagine what you might be strong enough to resist AND strong enough to accept if all your trials were preceded by 40 days and nights of communion with God, sustained only by the bread of life and living water.


I invited you to willingly enter a period of 40 days in which you removed yourself, to whatever extent you could, from the normal frantic pace of your life...decided to pray during lunchtime instead of running errands. Walked to work instead of driving or took the bus and read something good for your soul. Willingly entered a period of 40 days in which you bought and cooked only as much as you would eat and didn't throw anything away...

What if you promised yourself that every time you looked at your watch you would whisper, "God, help me slow down and live deeply"? What if you used less electricity, saved more water, produced less waste, and helped heal the deep wounds in our Mother Earth?


I want to add to those suggestions some more that were shared with me by a friend.

During Lent...Fast from worry, and Feast on the divine order by trusting GodFast from complaining, and Feast on appreciationFast from negatives, and Feast on affirmativesFast from unrelenting pressures, and Feast on unceasing prayerFast from hostility, and Feast on tendernessFast from bitterness, and Feast on forgivenessFast from self-concern, an Feast on compassion for othersFast from idle gossip, and Feast on purposeful silenceFast from judging others, and Feast on the divine within themFast from emphasis on differences, and Feast on the unity of lifeFast from greed, and Feast on generosityFast from thoughts of illness, and Feast on wholenessFast from words that pollute, and Feast on the phrases that purifyFast from discontent, and Feast on gratitude

I pray that your Lenten journey is a time of renewal, refreshment, and rejoicing.