Fast and Feast

By now, lent is over half over. All around the world, people are making sacrifices in hopes to grow closer to Christ, whether it's in the form of giving up pop or chocolate, or waking up 20 minutes earlier to spend time reading the Bible. Last week while I was helping out at church with the youth on Wednesday night, I came across this beautifully written poem about Lent. I'm not sure the source of it, so I can't cite it correctly, but I still want to share. It gave me a whole new perspective of how to use lent to better myself, and how to grow closer to Christ.

Lent -
is a time for fasting.
is a time for feasting.
is a time to fast from certain things and feast on others.

Fast from judging others; feast on Christ indwelling in them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.
Fast from thoughts of illness; feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on divine order.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on increasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; feast on nonresistance.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal Truth.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from shadows of sorrow; feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.