Rice and Beans Fast

I was going to write all about the (optional) fast that JVs are challenged to try each Lent, but I found that Tom O'Keefe, a Baltimore JV, put it much more eloquently in his blog than I could.

My community is not taking it to the degree that JVC Baltimore is; we add different seasoning to our rice (for example, we've had Spanish rice and curried rice the past couple of nights). And we've only committed to it for our evening meal-- about half of my lunches since the fast began have been rice and beans; the rest of the time I've grabbed a yogurt or something. But still, "rice week" (we call it that, even though it's a ten-day challenge) has been really eye-opening for me.

I'm trying to take Friday fasts REALLY seriously this year, which is something that I'm struggling with even as I type this blog. I have dicovered this Lent something that either didn't occur to me that past few years, or I just forgot: Fasting is hard. I don't generally eat a whole lot to begin with these days because I sit still at a desk most of the time. I do consume more calories when I work out, but I don't remember being so hungry the mornings after I exercise during Lent. (And I was an endophins junkie all last year, as all of Vatican Row will corroborate. I managed to work out and fast without any problems all of last Lent.) At any rate, I don't remember having so much trouble concentrating or feeling so weak.

I remind myself that Christ pulled this off for 40 straight days in the desert. He was as fully human as He was fully divine, and His fast reminds me and that giving my body a little less of what it wants is a great way to prime myself spiritually. Christ's reasons for his fast were different. Pope Benedict XVI wrote about Jesus' fast and temptation in the desert:

The temptations are a descent into the perils bestting mankind, for there is no other way to lift up a fallen humanity. Jesus has to enter into the drama of human existence, for that belongs to the core of his mission; he has to penetrate it completely, down to its uttermost depths, in order to find the "lost sheep," to bear it on his shoulders, and to bring it home.

For the rest of us, mere mortals already ensconced in the drama of human existence, our fast helps purify us by stripping us of the rest of the drama and focusing on the basics of our human condition—that is, the only important part of the drama, which is our relationship with God. What do I truly need? What do I merely want? Can I, by abstaining from "extras" for forty days, unite myself more closely with God?

Lenten resolution

I was prepared to write a great, big blog rant about issues at work and feeling like I'm in a funk spitirually and missing people at home, etc. Every time a situation at work comes up, I start responding to the stress like it's something I'll never be able to overcome. I talk far too much about whatever's making me upset and allow my emotions to bleed over from the situation to all other areas of my life. That's what makes me so homesick so fast.

But then I paused, and I thought about it. And I've decided I'm not going to complain about any of it, at least not until I've ridden the wave a little farther and know what is going to happen. This is my little epiphany, and it came just in time for Lent to begin.

Aside from your standard fasting and almsgiving, I'm going to work on not getting overwhelmed or stressed out about every new, frightening situation that crops up. Every time I do that, the situation comes to some resolution (though it is rarely tidy) and then I get freaked out over the next one. Instead of focusing on how hard a lot of what I'm dealing with is, I'm going to make a conscious effort to do at least one cheerful good deed every day.

Here's hoping that this will help me in my Lenten prayer, as well. It's eaisier to bless God when you have something cheerful in your heart. I figure if I intentionally put something cheerful there, my prayer will open with praise for God instead of going straight to supplication or complaining. Hopefully it'll lead to a more fruitful prayer life and healthier relationships.

I have more Lenten resolutions, but that's the only one I feel like sharing publically. Happy Lent, everybody!

We rise again from ashes

As tomorrow is the beginning of Lent, I’ve evaluated my life and the way I spend my time. I’ve come to the conclusion that, while I was once excellent at time management, I am not any longer. So, I intend to rectify that these coming weeks. Other than the requisite things (fasting and abstaining from “extras” like dessert and the like), I’m working on things that I do to manage my time better. I also have figured out my punishments for when I mess up (and I’m sure I will mess up). So, without further ado, here are my plans for Lenten mortification.

To Be Given Up

Internet: Other than academic use or necessary communication, I’m refraining from using the internet. I will check Facebook ONE TIME per day to keep up with communication and my email once in the morning and once at night. Everything else can wait until Sunday or Easter.

Television: All of it. Things on DVD, things on my iPod, and the ones at the gym. Movies theatres are out, too, but that’s not really a sacrifice (I don’t go that often).

Food- I'm following the general requirements for fasting: smaller meals, no snacking, no dessert, etc. I usually skip breakfast anyway, and lunch is my main meal during the day (lots to study=little time to cook=small, or at least prepared over the weekend, dinners). Nothing fancy, like giving up solid food or cutting whole meals.

Coffee- If I choose to drink coffee, I forgo the meal for that part of the day.

To Be Taken On
One hour before the Blessed Sacrament each day. Probably to be done in two half-hour installments. Or three twenty-minute installments. You get the idea.

Punishments
Should I spent any time on the internet doing something other than communicating or schoolwork or watching television, I will measure the amount of time I waste. I will add that amount of time to my daily hour of Adoration.

I don't report all of this as a 21st century "hair shirt" (people used to put on crappy clothes, often made of hair, so that the whole world would know they were fasting. This is discouraged in the Gospel). I do it because I hope that my friends will help hold me accountable if they know what I'm trying to do.

Wish me luck! Happy Lent!