Fast Food

Feast and Famine.    It is the best of times, and it is the worst of times (Thank you Charles Dickens, and your beginning to A Tale of Two Cities). We are in the process of Lenten Living which leads us to the Discipline of Dying, at least in some way!

Take a look at the reading for today from 1Kings.  On the heels of submission and a death wish, the good and faithful (but not perfect) Elijah is visited with sustenance for the days ahead.  It is as if God is saying via the angelic messengers:   "ok, now that you are at your bottom, eat this most basic food and you will be nourished (as you need to be) for the days ahead."  God had much more in mind for this servant -- in the midst of hunger and exhaustion God provided "just enough" for next steps.

We are called to fast during Lent.  We resist the temptation to provide ourselves with "goodies".  In doing so we experience the space where God gives us what God knows we need most.  It may be bread and water, I suppose.

But sometimes what we need most is a reminder of God's care for us.

We think what we want is something to feed our body, and what we really want is something that feeds our soul--and God's presence fills us to the brim, satisfying our hungry heart.

Lent is about being willing to stay in the bare, wild places trusting that God and all that is God's Goodness will be more than sufficient.  Fast.   Food.  Fed!