Lent

Fasting.
Dying to self.
Refocus on God.
Becoming more of who God desires me to be.
Glorifying Him.

Some of these phrases confused me for a long time in Christian lingo, but I'm realizing that in context and understanding these different components, I have a much clearer picture of what Lent is about. Dying to the old self and accepting the new. Two days into Lent and not having eaten meat in 2 days; which is kind of surprising for me, I eat some kind of meat on a pretty regular basis--especially chicken, I love me some chicken. I don't crave meat on a regular basis, but I also love me a good hamburger every now and then...veggie burgers do it for a little while, but I don't think they cut it for a lifetime, or do they?? That is what I'm trying to discover in this process of Lent, or at least a part of it, what does it mean to understand that being able to purchase meat in the grocery store is a total luxury? We don't have to go out an kill anything, fatten up a cow, chase a chicken around only to kill it, roast a pig (a Courtney family tradition, thank you Uncle Tim and the number of years I've been exposed to such an experience).

It's like I've discovered a whole new world of vegetables and meals that are meatless that are just as delicious and because of the richness of color, just looking at them make me feel...healthier. But again, it's not even about that, I want to understand how people survived, functioned, and were active 1000 years ago-and yes I understand they killed animals for meat, but I'd like to discover what it's like to eat foods that are of the ground or grown on trees. I'm so thankful for this opportunity to try this, God, to know you more, and rely on you, instead what I have in my refrigerator and pantry.

Praises.