A different kind of fasting…
A friend of mine forwarded me the following excerpt from a blog called Abby of the Arts by Christine Valters. It is worth the reading.
“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 so to 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.”
May your Lenten fasting bear much fruit…
Finally, we are going to conduct one more round of signature taking for the Children’s Educational Initiative. As you remember, the signatures are to sponsor a referendum in the fall for Missouri voters to approve, setting up tax credits for educational initiatives. 50% of the funding will go to public schools, 40% to private schools and 10% to special education. If you have NOT signed the petition yet, please take the opportunity to do so next weekend.