We have the first week of Lent underway and the difficulties are present but manageable. My wife and I are somewhat working together, both fasting for spiritual health. An old patient of mine had told me he was fasting every other day for 40 days. So we decided to do that for Lent this year. Also, in becoming somewhat of a tradition, we are fasting for the entire week of Easter from Sunday to Sunday. Now our fasting is a bit on the extreme end of the spectrum. It’s not consuming any food or drink for 24 hours. The exception is water, black coffee and electrolytes. I only use the coffee when I’m doing a long drive but not as a daily habit. Headaches, irritation, and stomach pains will ensue but that is part of it. The Easter week is especially hard, but after the 3rd day, you become acclimated and you realize it’s not so bad. While the physiologic benefits abound, promoting a type of cell death that helps to clear out “broken and inefficient” parts of our cells, I am more interested in the difficulty of the task. The suffering. I think there is a lot of power in voluntary suffering.
After all, our Lord calls us to accept suffering. We are instructed to pick up our daily cross and follow Him. We are also encouraged to bear all trails with gratitude and patience. While we can ask for relief from some things, we are not here to live a pain free life. We are called to endure because God gives us the strength to do so. We just have to believe that our suffering is worth the price. And isn’t that how most things in life are? Can you recall anything you did in your life that was difficult that didn’t somehow pay off, whether is be a lesson in knowledge and wisdom, a physical reward, or something else? There is a saying; Do the things that are hard and life will be easy. Do the things that are easy and life will be hard.
We also each have our own things we’re working on. Personally, I am trying to grow spiritually by incorporating a meditation practice back into my day. This is something I had done years ago and have neglected to do it since. I made the classic excuse that I didn’t have time. So I decided to make it small and achievable; 5 minutes a day. Just sit and breathe and feel my surroundings. Check in with my thoughts and feelings. Its liberating because it gives me control over some small part of my day. I know that those 5 minutes aren’t dictated by my job, my relationships, my goals. It’s just me and God, resting. I believe that is one of the main things I’m seeking: mental and emotional rest.
I believe that is one of the callings in Lent. To seek God through rest. We are so busy in everything we do and Lent is a time of slowing down. Slowing down to reflect and recenter. Redirect our attention to what is important and what is necessary. We are used to being pulled in so many directions that at first this seems unnatural. It’s almost uncomfortable to just sit because we feel inactive or even lazy. This is a lie. It’s a distraction from God and His desire to replenish us. So I’m challenging myself this Lent to make room for God through rest. I am making an attempt to abolish my idol of busyness that keeps me from God’s love. Something I think we all struggle with to some degree. So let’s make room for what’s important. Let’s open our hearts and minds to God’s peace.
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