Week 1 of Lent, I felt led to focus on just one central aspect of "doing" Lent in preparation for Easter's-Celebration-Dance.
The first facet was prayer (as you know, if you've been following)...
Another stop along the Lenten Road takes me to this undesirable place called "fasting."
Here was the invitation:
In a traditional sense, fasting during Lent is the most critical practice.
As a kid, I normally fasted from chocolate.
I could still have desserts.
I could still eat candy.
I could still have a milkshake with my burger.
I just simply had to change the flavor.
I was sincere about giving up chocolate...................................................................for about a week......
Maybe.
Sigh.
A few years ago, I began a new Lenten fast.
I gave up giving up.
I fasted from fasting.
I thought that was pretty clever.
Instead, I began adding something new to my spiritual disciplines.
For example, one year I added the practice of "examen" as Ignatius of Loyola taught.
The Prayer of Examen been a vital, regular practice in my spiritual deepening.
This year, I thought "adding" a better understanding of "why-Lent" seemed a perfect idea.
Until that research led me back to this one fact:
One can't truly "lent" without a fast (that's right, Lent is now a verb).
So, while I come to the idea of fasting, a week late.
It must become central to the spiritual preparation.
Fasting cannot be apart from Lent.
Indeed, it must be a part!
So, as I continue praying throughout Lent, I will start seeking God on what one thing distracts me from my relationship with Him the most...
What do I seem to love so much it takes away from time with Him (a key to Lenten-fasts!!!!!)?
For this is the purpose of a Lenten-fast: to draw me nearer to Jesus.
XXXX
If you're interested in adding a Prayer of Examen as a part of your Lenten-prayer-life, here is a brief explanation of what and how:
No comments:
Post a Comment