A Sunday Reflection
I had to be reminded that today is Transfiguration Sunday.
My mind has been elsewhere this week with being sick and then my son getting sick and just being busy with all the things that one is busy doing. I forgot it was Transfiguration Sunday. This means that Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and Lent is set to begin.
Where does the time go?
I wonder if I will fast. Giving up something for Lent is traditional. Many Christians practice some form of austerity. Asceticism is a core Christian discipline. What we abstain from is symbolic of larger spiritual realities. And we have bodies. Let’s not forget the somatic.
I have to consider my dietary needs. #diabetes
Then there are some logistical considerations. #communitymeals
But maybe fasting is still the way to go. I’m not talking about going 40 days with only bread and water, I’m talking about fasting from meat for most of the week or something like that. Damn. It would be ill advised for me to give up a source of protein. #sigh
Fasting could be seen in other ways as well. I could attempt to fast from conflict and unhealthy expressions of anger or even sarcasm. #whatever
i usually fast from the Eucharist. That feels…unnecessary. Silly.
There is, of course, taking something on. Volunteering. Hospice Chaplaincy. Pitching in with a music program somewhere.
Richmond Hill will distribute ashes at noon on Wednesday. I have a little time to decide.
Do you observe Lent? If so, how so?
One year I gave up cream in my coffee. Made it 3 days and then found myself standing in front of the coffee pot, full cup of coffee with cream in hand feeling guilty but knowing I should still give up something, so I gave up guilt and enjoyed the coffee. The powers of rationalization are mighty.
after years of abstaining from alcohol, I noticed that 'giving up booze for Lent' had become invisible and routine. Not supportive of a deepening faith & practice. Now what I do for fasting is attempt to stay mindful and eat only what my body needs to stay healthy. It's the mindful part that seems to matter. 'Why am I pounding down handfuls of almonds? or this pint of salted caramel ice cream? Let's not do this now.' It was/is definitely the case that I had defined a food as 'bad' -- blaming the food for tempting me or beating myself for succumbing.
A practice that has been useful for the past 3-4 years has been to choose either the sheep & goats parable in Matthew 25: 34-36 or Matthew's beatitudes and daily or more sit with a phrase and the question 'how am I doing this work of love?' Too often the answer is 'I'm not' or 'I'm doing it just enough to feel virtuous.' But sometimes I can honestly see ways I'm in ministry or practice that I hadn't noticed. Honest self assessment sometimes leads to a new practice, and I can trust that it comes from a call, not relentless self-improvement or at least guilt.
I have really found the community Rule that you shared to be very helpful, and I'm thinking of using it for daily reflection this Lent.
wishing you surprising discoveries in whatever you choose to do!