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The beautiful sunshine outside distracts me from thoughts of Lent, but Christine Valters Paintner writes these words of reflection at this beginning of Lent:
"Alan Jones describes the desert relationship to death in this way: 'Facing death gives our loving force, clarity, and focus. . . even our despair is to be given up and seen as the ego-grasping device that it really is. Despair about ourselves and our world is, perhaps, the ego’s last and, therefore, greatest attachment.'
"I have been sitting with Jones' words and the invitation to fast during Lent, one of the central practices we are called to take on. The first reading today from the prophet Joel summons us to 'return to God with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning.'
"But the kind of fast drawing me this season isn't leaving behind of treats like chocolate or other pleasures. This season I am being invited to fast from things like 'ego-grasping' and noticing when I so desperately want to be in control, and then yielding myself to a greater wisdom than my own.
"I am called to fast from being strong and always trying to hold it all together, and instead embrace the profound grace that comes through my vulnerability and tenderness, to allow a great softening this season.
"I am called to fast from anxiety and the endless torrent of thoughts which rise up in my mind to paralyze me with fear of the future, and enter into the radical trust in the abundance at the heart of things, rather than scarcity.
"I am called to fast from speed and rushing through my life, causing me to miss the grace shimmering right here in this holy pause.
"I am called to fast from multitasking and the destructive energy of inattentiveness to any one thing, so that I get many things done, but none of them well, and none of them nourishing to me. Instead my practice will become a beholding of each thing, each person, each moment.
"I am called to fast from endless list-making and too many deadlines, and enter into the quiet and listen for what is ripening and unfolding, what is ready to be born.
"I am called to fast from certainty and trust in the great mystery of things.
"And then perhaps, I will arrive at Easter and realize those things from which I have fasted I no longer need to take back on again. I will experience a different kind of rising."
~Christine Valters Paintner
To read the entire article go here.
And if you would like to receive a weekly newsletter from Christine, you may subscribe by going here.
"Alan Jones describes the desert relationship to death in this way: 'Facing death gives our loving force, clarity, and focus. . . even our despair is to be given up and seen as the ego-grasping device that it really is. Despair about ourselves and our world is, perhaps, the ego’s last and, therefore, greatest attachment.'
"I have been sitting with Jones' words and the invitation to fast during Lent, one of the central practices we are called to take on. The first reading today from the prophet Joel summons us to 'return to God with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning.'
"But the kind of fast drawing me this season isn't leaving behind of treats like chocolate or other pleasures. This season I am being invited to fast from things like 'ego-grasping' and noticing when I so desperately want to be in control, and then yielding myself to a greater wisdom than my own.
"I am called to fast from being strong and always trying to hold it all together, and instead embrace the profound grace that comes through my vulnerability and tenderness, to allow a great softening this season.
"I am called to fast from anxiety and the endless torrent of thoughts which rise up in my mind to paralyze me with fear of the future, and enter into the radical trust in the abundance at the heart of things, rather than scarcity.
"I am called to fast from speed and rushing through my life, causing me to miss the grace shimmering right here in this holy pause.
"I am called to fast from multitasking and the destructive energy of inattentiveness to any one thing, so that I get many things done, but none of them well, and none of them nourishing to me. Instead my practice will become a beholding of each thing, each person, each moment.
"I am called to fast from endless list-making and too many deadlines, and enter into the quiet and listen for what is ripening and unfolding, what is ready to be born.
"I am called to fast from certainty and trust in the great mystery of things.
"And then perhaps, I will arrive at Easter and realize those things from which I have fasted I no longer need to take back on again. I will experience a different kind of rising."
~Christine Valters Paintner
To read the entire article go here.
And if you would like to receive a weekly newsletter from Christine, you may subscribe by going here.
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