Learning Along The Way

Less Really is More

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Yesterday I didn’t post, I experienced.

This week of Lent the focus has been the spiritual discipline of fasting. This discipline challenges me. I don’t remember a time when I truly fasted for spiritual reasons. I remember lots of attempts and just as many failures. Medical fasts yes, spiritual, no.

I think I was afraid. Not sure of what, but fear is something that I felt as I read the first entry in my Lenten devotional, Less is More. Maybe i feared failure again? As the week went on I faced the unknown fear head on; fasting differently each day ( one meal, a couple of days and then two meals). Thursday night I purposed to fast through until dinner Friday.

The devotional question on Friday was a contemplative one: How does fasting connect us with the life of God, the lives of others?

It’s a great question.

Being invited into the Life of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is an invitation open to all Christ followers, but how much do I treasure the invitation? Am I so constantly busy that I can’t slow down enough to hear or see?

Yesterday I slowed. The day was fairly routine; I walked the dog, pulled weeds, did laundry, cleaned a portion of the house, did dishes. Nothing spectacular. But it was different. God was in it with me in a new way.

Every time I try to write what the day was like, words escape. Here’s one: Joy-filled. Peaceful. Good. Self-control. Yes, I experienced the Fruit of the Spirit in new ways. It was definitely worth it.

When hunger rumbled, I thought about Haiti. I thought about Sri Lanka. India. Inner city LA. The homeless in our community. Children around the world. My hunger was temporary; theirs often ending only when they see the Face of God.

This experience was blessed. I will endeavor a fast again.

What have been your experiences with fasting?

What Does the Mirror Show?

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I have inherited this beautiful mirror.  It is over 100 years old.  If you look closely you may notice the mirror itself has dark lines going across it horizontally; the silver on the back has worn off in places.

People have suggested I get a new mirror for the frame.  For some reason, I haven’t thought it necessary.

It reflects.

Isn’t that what a mirror is supposed to do?

As I look into it I imagine all the faces of family members that I have never met; wondering what they looked like,  what they were like.

What were the styles of their day?  What were the cares they wore?  Who was uppermost in their heart?

Lots of wondering. So I haven’t changed the glass.

As I consider why I haven’t changed the mirror I realize something else, something about this mirror that is similar to what I am experiencing in this season of Lent: the image is distorted.

I don’t see myself, my flaws, my bad habits, my petty annoyances or anything about me with any degree of accuracy while my mirror is distorting me.

But if I look long at the mirror of Scripture I see how much I need a makeover; to be made new by the work of the Holy Spirit.

This week of Lent is about doing without. Doing without the ways I hide from this work.  Doing without props that keep me hidden.

About fasting.  Less consumption/More compassion.

The mirror of Scripture has shown me my need for Christ.

As I look deeply, I don’t receive guilt or condemnation though. I receive compassion.  Forgiveness.  Grace.

What does the mirror you look at show you?

 

Living Without

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You may know people who are battling serious diseases whose source comes from the food they have been eating.

Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, are two examples that come to mind.  Or you may know someone whose blood chemistry causes their doctor to say

“No more this, that or the other thing”.  Or you may know someone who lives with food allergies where ingesting a certain food is life threatening.

There has been quite an awareness raised about gluten and the connection to health problems such as: behavior in children, arthritis inflammation, digestive issues to name a few.

There is at least one magazine dedicated to recipes and information for those in the above categories.  It’s title? Living Without.

Ironically all this comes to mind along with a bigger idea of what it means to live without food.  The food that one needs to survive let alone thrive.

The media throws around statistics to get our attention but not often enough do we hear how many millions in our country are hungry.  When you think of starvation, be honest; images of developing countries with tin, cardboard and plywood walls come to mind..

This week of Lent is focused on the spiritual discipline of fasting.  I have been challenged to choose a meal daily, or one entire day, to fast.  Whatever my meal would cost could be put toward an agency who helps feed those without.  This sounds really awesome!

This challenges me. I can’t even write yet about the conviction I feel.

Do you fast?  What are your experiences?

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