Ash Wednesday

I tried to post yesterday, and ended up at another blog I share with some people - oops!

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday.  It was such a joy to spend it in community, in silence.  There's a real power for me in being silent with others.  It's companionable.  We can be together, while being in our own thoughts and prayers.  The liturgy at Holy Cross was beautiful.  I love to preside at
Eucharists, but I also love to receive, to not have to do the next thing.  And it's great to be part of a well-oiled liturgical machine.

If silence was a joy, fasting was not so much.  We didn't do the full-bore fast, but I ate little enough that I stayed hungry all day.  It reminded me of the millions of people, here and globally, who experience that feeling every day, with no hope of better the next day.  Eating my little portion of rice and beans, I knew that for many this would be a whole day's nutrition.

So will this change my patterns and my commitments this year?  I hope so.  For now I'm back to being gluten free, meat free, dairy free.  I know I'll feel better, and the planet will thank me.  But where is my chocolate?

Thanks to Sarah for the tip about Shadow's stress.  I'll see what I can do!