I have never observed Lent much more than thinking about the tradition behind Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday and that is was a time of "giving something up" until Easter Sunday. This year I decided to do something more. That is when I found a Lenten Calendar for the 40 days of Lent (beginning today and ending Holy Saturday). On it are a number of activities to deepen one's sense of the spiritual and ultimately the awareness of one's own beliefs. For the next 40 days, I will be blogging on my experience, epiphanies, reflections and more on this sacred journey. Your comments are welcome and if you want to join me on this spiritual pilgrimage, I would love to travel with you.
Day One
Ash Wednesday:
Fasting is an ancient tradition. Fast from something, say wine or meat, that you would normally eat or drink today.
Bread. I chose to give up bread for today. I used up the last of the bread in my house yesterday. Now of course you know what I craving: french toast, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, hot buttered English muffin, bread and butter, on and on. It is true for me that whatever I "give up" becomes the object of my obsession. But today I gave up bread.
So during the day I have had random thoughts about bread in all its symbolic and nourishing ways. Bread of life. "Give us this day, our daily bread." "Cast your bread upon the waters." A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou." "Bread for myself is a material question. Bread for my neighbor is a spiritual one." "Man cannot live by bread alone." Earning your bread...money is called bread sometimes. Buttered bread falls face down.
Ultimately, I realized I missed bread. Bread is part of the daily diet of most Americans. And I love it. I love the smell of fresh baked bread. I like hot toast with butter melting on it or some peanut butter and honey. A good sandwich on sourdough or sheepherder's. White bread, brown bread, pumpernickel, rye.
So giving up bread for this day was eye-opening. For one thing, when you are trying not to think about something, (elephant in the room) that is all you think about. So the fast from bread revealed what could be called a day of obsession. The brain would not quit. The stomach turned with cravings for bread, bread, bread.
Meditation helped. Letting the thoughts of bread drift through my mind and not attaching myself to the thoughts proved successful. When the Israelites were hungry, God provided. Faith can see you through the most barren of times. Even days without bread.
Was that the lesson here? Giving up something you truly like and, forgive me, take for granted, does give one pause. Discipline is something that leads one to a greater understanding of oneself and the world in general. It can also lead to a closer walk with our higher power.
Mahatma Gandhi said, “There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.” And it is what Christians use during communion to represent the body of Christ. The most rewarding times for humans as social animals are when we break bread together.
Food for thought on this first day of Lent.
Ultimately, I realized I missed bread. Bread is part of the daily diet of most Americans. And I love it. I love the smell of fresh baked bread. I like hot toast with butter melting on it or some peanut butter and honey. A good sandwich on sourdough or sheepherder's. White bread, brown bread, pumpernickel, rye.
So giving up bread for this day was eye-opening. For one thing, when you are trying not to think about something, (elephant in the room) that is all you think about. So the fast from bread revealed what could be called a day of obsession. The brain would not quit. The stomach turned with cravings for bread, bread, bread.
Meditation helped. Letting the thoughts of bread drift through my mind and not attaching myself to the thoughts proved successful. When the Israelites were hungry, God provided. Faith can see you through the most barren of times. Even days without bread.
Was that the lesson here? Giving up something you truly like and, forgive me, take for granted, does give one pause. Discipline is something that leads one to a greater understanding of oneself and the world in general. It can also lead to a closer walk with our higher power.
Mahatma Gandhi said, “There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.” And it is what Christians use during communion to represent the body of Christ. The most rewarding times for humans as social animals are when we break bread together.
Food for thought on this first day of Lent.
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