Fasting from Fast

Well, everybody, it's that time of year again, it's the start of Lent. Today marks Fat Tuesday and in less than an hour the fasting will begin. Generally this time comes with different denominations giving up something of the Earth to grow closer to God. Traditionally those who practice Lent will give up meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and every other Friday in the Lent season. However Lent seems to be taking a more modern turn in which you simply, "fast," from something you commonly indulge in.

In previous years I have participated in Lent and given up things like television, social media, and even pizza (considering it was my freshman year of college, that one was surprisingly quite difficult.) After quite a bit of thinking I have made a decision on this year's journey.

For forty days I will be fasting from fast food and fast food restaurants.

Now I know what you may be thinking, what does fast food have to do with your journey with God?? This question is honestly pretty reasonable, I myself was wondering how this Lent would go. Seeing as to how I eat fast food at least once a day, I should probably lay off anyways, but I decided to take the fasting one step further.

As I'm fasting from fast food, I not only decided to lay off the food itself, but also the whole idea of quick living. We go through a drive through because we're too busy sprinting through our daily lives to truly appreciate the moment. On my journey through Lent I have decided to spend more time with God, and people, in order to live in the NOW and see things as they really are. Before each meal I plan on praying a simple prayer, I want to take the time to thank God for the food he has given me, the people he has given me to share with, and the time he has given me to eat a healthy meal. I'm hoping that this journey will open my eyes to my many blessings that God has given me, it will help me be present in life, celebrate with those around me, and it will help me find a new appreciation for all that God is doing every day of my life,

In addition to the more religious efforts, fasting from fast food was also a health conscious decision. God has given me a healthy body and a scholarship to run, I find that filling it with fast food every day has given me a lack of self confidence and a sort of disrespect for this body I have been given.

My end goals for this Lent season are to help my overall health, I plan to work on my mental health, my physical health, but most importantly my spiritual health. I'm fasting from the fast paced lives we live to be more present for God and myself. To finish this post off, before I go to bed, I'd like to leave you with a few verses.

Ecclesiastes 5:18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 

19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 

20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

These verses, to me, are my mission statement for Lent, Ecclesiastes 5 talks about how everything is a gift from God, from our eating, to our labor, to our wealth, I plan to be more present with his gifts, as well as the life he's given me. 

Happy Lent Everybody!!