Great and Holy Lent, as I've been reminded multiple times in the past couple of weeks, is a time for repentance and transformation. Casually and sadly though, Lent seems largely to be thought of as a time of fasting and giving up -- a purely negative connotation.
In my mind, neither fasting nor repentance should have a solely negative connotation. Repentance involves knowledge and confession of former sins. But biblically, the act of repentance tends to be the command, "Go, and sin no more." One is to move past one's sin and reconstruct one's self. There is transformation and rebuilding in the light of past failings. Likewise, fasting shouldn't be understood simply as giving up certain foods or habits. Fasting is a positive reordering of habits; one that takes place at the very primal level of eating.
I have several goals for the Lenten Fast this year. Most basically to keep it to the best of my ability. Beyond that I hope to practice mindfulness and deliberation in what I eat. Both out of concern for self-care and to better understand the interconnection and impact of my habits of consumption on the environment and the global economy.
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