It's January and the first Day of Lent is Sunday, February 6, 2008. Lent is a 40 period from Ash Wednesday to Easter that many Christian denominations observe as a time of fasting and prayer. You can read more about it here if you'd like.
Much of the time people choose to fast from things like coffee, dessert, or TV--but what if we thought more deeply about what it is that pollutes us? The history of Lent goes back in part to the 40-day temptation of Jesus in the desert, when Christ faced hardship with the truth of Scripture. The fasting tradition of Lent then is associated with an act of the will to follow God. It's true that missing my daily cup of caffeinated bliss is difficult, but I'm not sure it's a true test of my will. What is? Facing fear.
Whether it's fear of other people's opinion, of safety on the streets, failure, loneliness, poverty, or even simply the truth...it seems everyone's got something to be afraid of. Personally, I'm tired of living that way.
Here's the thing..there is no room for fear in love. And there's plenty of room at the foot of the cross for Perfect Love in Jesus Christ to take us in. Would you fast from fear for Lent?
Make a list of your biggest fears. Really. Get it all out on paper.
Decide on some conversations, travel plans--whatever it takes--that fly in the face of those fears.
Pick one thing to do each week of Lent and actually do it.
Come back to this blog and write about how it's going. Let's do this thing together, praying each other through, and perhaps we'll have the courage to continue fasting from fear long after Easter Sunday has come and gone.
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