Thoughts on How to Live During Lent and BeyondThoughts on How to Live During Lent and Beyond
Pope Francis recently shared this beautiful passage about how to live during Lent and beyond. When we think of things to give up during Lent, shouldn’t our negative behaviors be the first to go?
A Lenten Diet
by John B. Wolf
Fast from Criticism, Feast on Praise.
Fast from Self-Pity, Feast on Joy.
Fast from Ill-Temper, Feast on Peace.
Fast from Resentment, Feast on Contentment.
Fast from Jealousy, and Feast on Love.
Fast from Pride, and Feast on Humility.
Fast from Selfishness, and Feast on Service.
Fast from Fear, and Feast on Faith.
Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with Hope.
Fast from worries and have trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.
This passage appears in Celebrating Easter and Spring: An Anthology of Unitarian Universalist Readings, ed. by Carl Seaburg and Mark Harris (Anne Miniver Press, 2000).