I was given this prayer by another attendee to our midweek service last night. The poem is by William Arthur Ward, an American author/pastor/teacher. I'm not sure this is the poem in its entirety, but I thought it was worth sharing. I would note that I think it speaks of things that we, as Christians, should be "fasting" from not just during Lent but during the whole year and things that we should be "feasting" on at all times also. As a fellow YAV, Patrick, put it, the church is sometimes too focused on Jesus' "greatest hits." We're incredibly excited to all come back together when school starts on some "Kickoff Sunday" and then we get excited about Advent and then Lent and then we're done after Easter until that "Kickoff Sunday" rolls around again in early September. What happened to the five months between Easter and "Kickoff Sunday"? May we "fast" and "feast" during those times, too. Maybe it's even more important that we do.
A Lenten Prayer (or maybe just a prayer in general)
Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling within them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from worry; feast on trust.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; feast on nonviolence.
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 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 idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.
