1st SUN LENT – “Jesus fasted…”

 It’s my sense that the temptations/tests Jesus faced called into question his fidelity in the midst of the deepest hungers of the human heart he experienced from fasting.  He did not shield himself from those very hungers that drive us to fill ourselves.

Rather, he embraced our hungers without acting out.

It seems to me, then, that fasting can/could/ought (?) put us in touch with the very hungers we defend against, our primary and quite vulnerable creature-hood.

Here’s a thought: about 30 years ago or so, a friend of mine decided to give away 5 things a day during Lent.  She liked it so much, she continued for a year.  (1825 things!)  She liked doing that so much that for the next year she gave away 4 things a day.  Not garbage or used paper.  Real “stuff.” (1460)

Just hearing about it gave me goosebumps!

This Lent, I’m easing into that.    E  A  S  I  N  G, indeed.        8 things a week for a year.  (416)  Let me guess what you’re thinking…  Hmmm.  Anyway, my intent is to learn to dwell with greater awareness in my anxious vulnerability.  And believe you me, putting the first 8 items in a box elicited so much anxiety… and avoidance!    YIKES!

Why dwell there?  To connect with Christ, self, and others with less pretense.  To recognize and reverence our common creaturely existence that I, for one, avoid daily!  Especially, to love others, Christ, & self by bringing out into the Light the fears that keep me stuck.  Perhaps God will thaw them out.

So, I’ll check in from time to time with what I’m being taught.

How you doing with your Lenten resolutions?  –roc,sj