Whew....

Well, I just made it through my first day of fasting for Lent. Prior to the beginning of Lent, I contemplated what I could realistically give up... and that which I would have to acknowledge I am either unwilling or unable to give up. For a Lenten discipline to be meaningful, whatever you're giving up has to be something you truly value. One of my friends from church gave up ketchup one year... Another has given up buying fabric... It all depends on what you hold dear. Well, I (briefly) considered giving up coffee, but decided it wouldn't be fair to Nathan and Hannah who would have to deal with me in the morning. I almost gave myself an "out" for choosing a Lenten discipline by reasoning that with Joe gone, I had given up him for Lent, ha ha. (Okay, sorry Lord, that I even considered that one!) So I decided to really challenge myself this year by choosing to fast one day a week. And, well, I did choose the day of the week that I thought would be the easiest to fast; a day where I knew I didn't have anything food-oriented likely to tempt me. Tuesdays looked to be the perfect day. And honestly, I have never fasted before, out of choice. Oh sure, I've fasted before having blood tests, and there are the few cases of stomach flu or intestinal distress that just calls for abstaining from eating. Pastor Dan has mentioned fasting several times during his sermons, and I honestly never really considered doing it.

But I made it -- with God's help! When I found myself struggling (looking at the pan of peanut butter fudge on the counter... looking at the bag of Doritos in the pantry... reading the signs on McDonalds... yes--it was a day-long struggle), I found myself praying for strength and more determination to see this through. If Jesus could give his life on the cross for me -- a very undeserving, sinful, weak person, then by golly, I could go without food for one measly day. Thank you, Lord, for seeing me through this challenge!