I grew up in the Catholic church throughout my childhood and into my teenage years, and am thankful for my upbringing and the tradition and discipline that it added to my life. There are certainly things that I did not completely agree with, but overall I am very thankful for growing up in an active Catholic church, and even attending Catholic school until our move to West Virginia in the 5th grade.

One thing however, that I could never wrap my mind around was the Lenten Fish Fry madness that takes over during this time of year. I was always a bit puzzled by the call to withhold from eating meat, but given the green light to gorge ourselves on fried fish. Where was the sacrifice? Where was the meaning, the purpose? I am sure there are deeper meanings to this tradition, they were simply always lost on me. I also always tried the practice of giving something up for Lent, be it sweets, soda, television or other “sacrificial” tasks, and I use that term very loosely. Heading into this Lenten season I was trying very hard to find something that I could give up or refrain from that would be both challenging and bring me closer to God. What I ultimately chose to do, was give up eating lunch throughout Lent and continue to eat sensible breakfasts and dinners.

I have attempted different types and lengths of fasts in the past. Some have been more difficult to keep than others, but they all have ultimately made me step back and acknowledge the many blessings that I have  and be grateful for the provision that is in my everyday life. In a fasting book that I have it states, “Fasting at its core, is not a discipline of withholding. Fasting is a discipline of making space for God.” The goal and task then, is to use my lunch hour to find God. It means that when I head home for lunch, I get to serve Abby and the boys, it mean I get to listen with a more attentive ear, it means that I get to spend time with God in prayer and reading that I would normally devote to eating.

Our Friday small group recently finished a book called The Rest of God, by Mark Buchanon. The main objective of this book is to encourage its readers into establishing a time of Sabbath into their lives. One of the chapters talks about the joy of feasting on the Sabbath, and how it is so hard to do this in our American society when everyone of our meals is a feast in and of itself. I hope that by offering up a meal each day to God, I can step back and be grateful for His provision in my life. That I can learn to appreciate the extra time that I will have to devote to family and to God.

Whether or not it is your custom to give something up for Lent, I challenge you to make it a real sacrifice that will not only bless you but your relationship with God and others as well. Fasting is as much about the attitude in which it is done, as  it is about that from which we are refraining. Don’t simply give up meat to gorge on fish, or say goodbye to the television to spend another few hours online. Make this Lenten season count by slowing down long enough to truly fast!

February 17, 2010 <> Michael Warneke

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