Thinking again about what I'm doing for Lent...

I'm not suggesting that giving up this or that food
   won't help me get closer to God.

I'm just raising the question:

How will giving up some particular food
help me grow in my spiritual life?

Will God, for some curious reason, be happier with me
   if I don't eat _____ for 40 days?

If I'm faithful and successful in my effort,
   where will that leave me at Lent's end? 
More open to God's presence in my life or... 
   proud of my own accomplishment? 
   hungrier than ever for what I gave up? 
   ready to binge on my own forbidden fruit?

Will not eating _____ for 40 days make me a more spiritual person? 
   And if so, how?
   And if not, why do it?

Lent isn't a diet plan, it's a season for growth in faith. 
Whatever I do for Lent,
   whatever I give up for Lent is meant,
is meant to help me grow in my knowledge and love of God
   - and my mindfulness of God in my daily life.

In my parish we pray every Sunday in Lent

For fasting that leads us to prayer
and for prayer that leads us to serve the poor,
let us pray to the Lord...

So where does my fasting lead me?
Does it lead me to prayer?  to God?
And does my prayer lead me
to be more generous in my outreach to the poor?

For fasting that leads us to prayer
   and for prayer that leads us to serve the poor,
      let us pray to the Lord...



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