Feasting and Fasting
Starting tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, our family will embark on its first Lenten journey together. We’re going to be working through the book A Place at the Table: 40 Days of Solidarity with the Poor by Chris Seay. In the spirit of Advent Conspiracy, Seay’s devotional leads readers through Lent with the goals of personal transformation and donations to a worthy cause thanks to money saved from making different food choices. (Dan’s hoping to finally send someone money for a goat!)
I’ve never observed Lent before, but I’m looking forward to the experience. I’ll try to write about more of our details later, but my most basic goal is to explore this idea of the rhythms of fasting and feasting. Seay reminds us that as Americans most of us are only familiar with the feast. That’s certainly true for me and my children.
I don’t harbor any illusions of turning our house into a little monastery or forcing my kids to eat bread and water at every meal. But I do think they are capable of more than our consumer culture asks of them. I don’t mind asking my four to eat toast instead of Pop-Tarts for a few weeks. It also won’t hurt any of us to realize that most people around the world don’t have a thousand different options for supper – they eat the same thing day after day. We’re going to give that one a try.
Monday – Saturday might be a little boring, and we’ll miss desserts, but on Sundays – each one a small Easter leading up to the big day – we’ll feast. Maybe the feasting will be a little sweeter because we’ll actually understand fasting.
I think this is GREAT! Our church has been doing a 21 day fast that will end this coming Monday. Most of the families are doing it and even the children have been fasting. Primarily they have fasted media and sweets. It has been so precious to see them sacrifice their sweets even when Valentine’s Day came. I’m thrilled our grandchildren -and their parents – will be doing this Lenten fast! You guys are awesome! Can’t wait to hear your updates!!
Doug & I are working through this book as well. We haven’t ever practiced Lent before either but for some reason… this year seemed different. When I heard about this book I was intrigued by Seay’s perspective & wanted to learn more. I’m looking forward to drawing closer to God in this process and maybe feeding someone else along the way!
Blessings!
It is fun to practice with someone else, isn’t it? Molly and her crew are reading through the book, too.
“Maybe the feasting will be a little sweeter because we’ll actually understand fasting.” AGREED.
I’ve got my beans and rice simmering away.
I didn’t remember to soak my beans! So tonight we’re having salad with leftovers.
Yeah, I’ll probably have to buy some canned stuff too, because I know I’ll forget the same thing one of these days.
Our first night went so well. We did the Day 1 reading and before supper, so everyone was a little more sober than usual, but it made for some great conversation. This is going to be good for us.
Yeah, I should probably buy some canned stuff too, because I know I’ll forget the same thing one of these days.
Our first night went so well. We did the Day 1 reading and before supper, so everyone was a little more sober than usual, but it made for some great conversation. This is going to be good for us.
Haha, I thought I deleted the first response by accident so I rewrote it! (almost word for word, cool!) You can delete if you like.
Nah, it makes it look like this post has practically gone viral based on the inflated number in the comment box!
I think this is a fantastic idea, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading!
Lent hit me as different this year too for some reason. Growing up in Knox with mostly Catholic people, I always thought of it as a Catholic thing. It isn’t, and I’m glad it’s seeing a revival of sorts, at least in the circles I’m in on.
Yes, I think it’s one of those traditions that has a lot of value if it can be practiced from the heart.
This is fabulous Felic, I’m anxious to hear about your family’s journey through the book!
This is so cool. I just had a lent convo with Catholic friends. I hadn’t realized the ‘giving stuff up’ had so much to do with saving money to give it away. They pointed out how it would definitely miss the point then if you gave up beef only to order lobster at a restaurant. I understand the process so much more with the charitable aspect explained.
I don’t think it traditionally had the saving money aspect, but I could be wrong. It was just a way of identifying with the sacrifice of Jesus. But the giving aspect helps keep it from being a legalistic ritual without heart, I think.