My thoughts on Lent

[Ryan Pugh]

For anyone who happens to be interested, yesterday I shared some of my thoughts on this season of Lent. Maybe someone will find it meaningful.

Reflection on Lent: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen?”

[Sarah Smith]

Good post!

Last night during the Ash Wednesday service our pastor told us a story from Hasidic Judaism.

I was tending little ones and am sure I missed most of the buildup.

But the idea was that in one pocket you have a scrap of paper that says "for from dust you came and to dust you shall return." In another pocket you have one that reads "the entire universe was created for me."

We were challenged to that sort of bold balance--not letting go of either the humble knowledge that we are one among millions, and will soon return to dust OR the stupendous knowledge of just how much the God of all this magnificent and glorious universe loves us.

We were challenged to fast both from inflated egos and depressing "I am nothing-ism."

We were challenged to repent, and then fast from enjoying the sense of how humble we are and how bad we are, and feast on how good He is.

We were challenged to fast from luxurious excess while feasting on the bounty He provides.

Mostly we were challenged to fast from focus inside our own souls and feast by focusing on Him.