Lent- A Time for Fasting… From all that blocks our Connection with Love

“It is my Lent to break my Lent,
To eat when I would fast,
To know when slender strength is spent,
Take shelter from the blast
When I would run with wind and rain,
To sleep when I would watch.
It is my Lent to smile at pain
But not ignore its touch.

It is my Lent to listen well
When I would be alone,
To talk when I would rather dwell
In silence, turn from none
Who call on me, to try to see
That what is truly meant
Is not my choice. If Christ’s I’d be
It’s thus I’ll keep my Lent.”

“For Lent”- Madeleine L’Engle 1966, Author of a “Wrinkle in Time”

Thank you Madeleine! Words written 60 years ago still carry the ring of Truth today. Christians worldwide recognize this 40-day period as a time for fasting, prayer, and charity. Not every one of the 2.5 billion people who follow some form of the Teachings of the Christ observe it in the same way. In America, it is estimated only 25% take to regular fasting and/or “giving up something for Lent”. I admire the practice(s) inherent in the poem by Ms. L’Engle, with its emphasis on listening, flowing and going inward to the Silence. A pathway to Affirmation, not Denial. 

At CenterPoint, the focus is on what centers and nourishes us, and less of fighting what troubles us. For me, the 40-day period as outlined in the Gospels needs a re-frame. Jesus didn’t go into the desert to prepare to fight the Deceiver. It wasn’t a battle inside a Spiritual Octagon, a fight to the Death. It was, in fact, a depiction of our lives- a Journey to find, and live, the Truth. 

The Teacher didn’t taunt the Adversary with: “My Daddy can whup your Daddy!” That, in fact, was already decided at Creation. Instead, it was a Pilgrimage (our pilgrimage) to totally connect with the Divine. In that time in the desert and wilderness (the eternal biblical metaphor for the outer wanderings absent the complete conscious connection with God), He showed us the Way. Meditating on the Three Temptations of the Christ can provide deep insights on all of our journeys- whether you are Christian, or not. 

Before we explore the Christian tradition, it is important to remember that 2 billion of our fellow humans, our Muslim brothers and sisters, will simultaneously be entering Ramadan- a month also of fasting, contemplation, and charity. Further, over 1.5 billion other humans have just celebrated their lunar New Year. A New Beginning, indeed…if we can collectively take the time to re-frame, and re-define, what it is to truly be human.

As an inter-faith, inter-religious, inter-spiritual Pilgrim, I respect all Paths. My Path is that of the Christ. During this Lenten Season I seek to more deeply understand those Three Temptations, and desire to more fully embrace their Teachings in my Life. Here is a rendition of a traditional understanding of the issues of Lent:

The Three Temptations of Christ:

• 1. The Temptation of Physical Appetite (Turn stones to bread): Following a 40-day fast, the devil tempted Jesus to use his divine power for self-preservation, focusing on physical comfort. Jesus answered that “one does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God”.
• 2. The Temptation of Testing God (Jump from the temple): The devil tempted Jesus to throw himself from the pinnacle of the Temple, quoting scripture that angels would save him (Psalm 91:11-12). This tempted Jesus to force God’s hand or prove his identity through a miraculous spectacle. Jesus responded, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test”.
• 3. The Temptation of Power and Glory (Worship Satan for kingdoms): The devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and offered them to him in exchange for worship. This offered a shortcut to glory bypassing the cross. Jesus replied, “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only”. 

The lens of my “re-frame” is not of denial, but of mental, emotional and spiritual affirmation and renewal. Ironically this is only possible when we let go of attachments to false idols, attachments and negative emotional programming. (The Spiritual Life is one constantly resplendent with Paradoxes). 

I have a 3-fold rule/guidance for myself for Lent:

• What am I ready to release? This requires a rigorous, and honest, self-assessment. I take the time during this period to constantly journal, as well as to “Put things in water” (A CenterPoint technique to arrive at inner clarity). I have found that to begin this season with a pre-fabricated list of “things”, even “ideas” and “emotions” that I have let go of, misses the point of Lent being a Journey. Only when you truly enter into it fully, and take those steps, can you know where you are going, and what are some of the deeper issues that restrict us. “Giving up chocolate “is easy (all the more so being a “vanilla” guy), but that is definitely not going to achieve anything. Mardi Gras, that day before the Season officially opens up, is often an excuse to overly indulge in one’s senses before entering a time of holiness and repentance. A bit like bachelor and bachelorette parties are often an opportunity for debauchery before entering a holy union. Huh???  Why not, through prayer and meditation tap into what no longer serves us on our Path and resolve to delete those inner programs? Soul-lution: Mind fasting first. 

• Am I in a co-dependent relationship with the Divine? Am I ignoring the Divine within, waiting for the Divine without to “save me”? In this application of the AA principles, we are projecting onto “God” (or unfortunately for too many “Jesus” as well) the role of someone, or something, that has to sacrifice Itself to enable my own irresponsibility ,or addiction to invalid ideas and actions. Co-dependency, traditionally, has “us” as the enabler, the one supporting others to the denial of our own needs. Is it truly different if we project that same role onto God, or Jesus? The personal issues for us are the same: low self-esteem, poor boundaries, controlling behavior, fear of abandonment, and resentment.  Soul-lution: Find practices that affirm the God-within and support others to find the same. Add as well  as subtract in Lent.

• What is the Nature of my God, and what is in Charge? Part of this period of daily reflection may be best directed at examining  what we (privately) worship. How do we spend our time, and to what do we give our Devotion? Is it “Money”? Is it “Approval”? Is it “Power”?  What controls the great majority of our time, emotions, and attention? Soul-lution: Re-direct, re-purpose, re-affirm our basic connection with the Divine at its Highest. The “Lord’s Prayer” given by Jesus is one such affirmation.  Find, write and live your own. Each of us has their own Inner Gospel. This a perfect time of renewal to uncover it.

Finally, take the time to Be with God/Goddess/Source. We are in that time of year where the Earth will once again unfurl itself in all its Splendor. Get ready…for your own re-Birth. May you find it with Love..