From the Heart
It was Ash Wednesday and Chuck and I were walking inside St. James United Methodist Church when I paused to tell him that I knew what I was giving up for Lent … whining.
Now, I think I am a positive person. I see the glass as half full. I know the sun will come out tomorrow. My grass is just the right shade of green. But there are those moments when I just feel the need to voice my aggravation.
When I told Chuck what I was giving up he asked me, “Do I need to hold you accountable with that?” I smiled and told him, “Honey, I don’t think that is a good idea.”
I know the usual things to give up: Coffee, chocolate, social media etc. but I wanted to be a bit more focused with my sacrifice. Besides, I am not a chocolate lover. I call coffee my cup of nice for obvious reasons. Social media? Well, no.
Upon entering the sanctuary we were given a card which read:
“Let us …
Fast from worry, and feast on trust in God,
Fast from complaining, and feast on appreciation,
Fast from negatives, and feast on affirmatives.
Fast from emphasis on differences, and feast on the unity of life,
Fast from hostility and feast on tenderness,
Fast from anger, and feast on empathy.
Fast from judging others, and feast on the image of God within them,
Fast from words that pollute, and feast on phrases that heal,
Fast from idle gossip, and feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from self-concern, and feast on compassion for others,
Fast from discontent, feast on gratitude,
Fast from bitterness, feast on forgiveness
Fast from facts that depress, and feast on examples that inspire,
Fast from discouragement, and feast on hope,
Fast from anxiety, and feast on prayer.
Credit goes to Tom Sherwood, Chaplain at Carleton University.
I could not have said this any better. It was just too good not to share.
I may be doing a lot of fasting and feasting.
Chuck may be doing a lot of accounting … and then he is a smart man and may just fast from doing so.
Giving up coffee may have been easier.