Lent

The Lenten season is upon us. Let’s enjoy it. That may sound strange to joyously anticipate a time of fasting, but oh isn’t it so much more than that?

Growing up Catholic, I viewed lent only as a time when I had to “give something up.” I would give up potato chips or pop or chocolate and just wait for something to happen, or for lent to be over. Every Friday, there was this count down going on in my head, ticking back the amount of time left until I could eat meat again. As I grew older and began to appreciate the beauty of Lent, I started to regret the way I viewed it as a child.

I had a “turning point” the first year I fasted as an adult on Ash Wednesday. I went into the day clueless. I only had a cup of water in the morning before work. I was embarrassing waiting for this instant feeling of spiritual fullness to miraculously come upon me. I was wrong, I was hungry. I went to work and made a few jokes about feeling hungry. But surprisingly as the day went on I started to stop thinking of the fact that I was running on empty, and I started to feel the purpose. I had a sense of clarity, still no miraculous happenings but I had this way of thinking and doing with intent. I got home and took my dog for a walk. I have always had a sense of wonder and awe from nature but as I was out there this feeling of being in the presence of true beauty just overwhelmed me. At this point, I felt spiritually full and I just got it, I began to understand why we fast and it’s power on your outlook, especially on my outlook of lent.

I felt drawn to become closer to God and felt the need to weed out things in my life that brought me farther away from Him. I didn’t want to give up Pop, I wanted to give up procrastinating and lounging when I could be doing something purposeful. I didn’t feel the need to give up potato chips anymore, I needed to go to bed earlier and say my prayers and remember to thank God for my blessings and ask Him for His forgiveness and guidance.

That day I realized I wasn’t running on empty because I didn’t eat breakfast, I was running on empty for years before that. This emptiness couldn’t be filled with eggs and toast. I was hungry for a life of purpose. I was hungry for the joy of living my life with God.

When I started to understand the true concept of Lent it turned from a 40-day challenge to a 40-day journey of faith.