Fasting from Fear

Today is Ash Wednesday – the first day of Lent.

I’m not going to spend much time today talking about religion or the meaning of Lent. I will just mention that Lent begins today and ends on Easter. Lent is 46 days long. Sundays are excluded, so it lasts for “40 days”.

Not all Christians observe Lent. I am a member of a denomination that DOES observe the Lenten period. This evening I will attend a brief worship service at my church, and I will spend the time between now and Easter with a little extra reflection and a little less of something else…

Lenten tradition encourages fasting or abstinence. Chocolate. Facebook. Soda pop. Television. Those are just a few of the more popular habits, addictions, or luxuries people choose to abstain from during Lent.

Some people add exercise, healthy eating, and daily Bible reading to their daily practice during this time. I already do all of those things, so I’m probably not going to add anything.

For several weeks, I’ve thought about what I should give up for Lent. I’ve thought about whether I needed to give up anything. After all – God still loves me, no matter what. He won’t love me less if I don’t fast from Facebook or chuck the chocolate.

Then it hit me. This morning. While I was in the shower. I suddenly knew what I need to give up for Lent.

I need to give up Fear.

Like chocolate, Facebook, and a good glass of wine, I’ve allowed myself to become overly attached to Fear. In fact, Fear is so much a part of me lately that I don’t remember who I was before it knit itself into the fiber of my soul.

Fear is much more damaging than a daily dose of dark chocolate could EVER be.

In Friday’s post (The Friday Five), I’ll share a few things I’m afraid of. For now, I will sign off with this favorite and popular quote from Marianne Williamson:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Does your spiritual practice include fasting for Lent? If so, what are you abstaining from? Have you ever “given up” something (food, Facebook, alcohol, television) for a time so you could move closer to God or a Higher Power or clarity?