Ash Wednesday

This is my second Lenten Journey Blog. I am somehow drawn to the concept of journaling the period of time which we call Lent. It is a time in the proverbial wilderness; whatever our wilderness is. It is a time to reflect, slow down, be prayerful, mindful, loving, giving and .....ouch....fasting.

I have always had trouble with the concept of fasting, or "giving up" something for Lent. Perhaps it is because of dysfunctional dieting and a somewhat addictive behavior. I can barely make it to a "fasting" blood work at Mass General once a year for my annual physical. I arrive with coffee in hand so the minute the band-aid goes on, I am good, Starbucks goes down. I am sure there is some weird psychological reason why I obsess with fasting, but I sure don't want to be preoccupied with denial such that I miss the real purpose of Lent.

Tonight at St. John's in Beverly Farms there was a whole page in the leaflet about Fasting. Fasting from judgement, anger, gossip, unkind words, jealousy, resentment, fear, doubt, and so on. It did not mention sugar or wine; which was a relief. Fasting means to "set something aside", so there is room for grace, for God's word, for the truth, for whatever we are called to hear. It seems fair to ask that we set things aside for wisdom, grace, love and understanding.

I have been on vacation this week and have taken the opportunity to do more yoga, to be quiet, to clean the house and clean my yard of the winter debris. I also feel like I am cleaning myself in a way....trying to prepare for a Holy Lent. One Lenten mantra is to slow down...... I know I move to fast and am not mindful. Even tonight, while rushing to get from Gloucester to Beverly Farms, God reminded me via a Manchester Police Officer and a $200.00 speeding ticket to "slow down".

So, SLOW down with me. Listen. Maybe we will all hear something in the Wilderness.