Lent, in Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. An ancient practice, the traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial — recalling the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter: the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. While specific practices have changed over the years and throughout the various streams of Christianity, the purpose of Lent has always been the same: self-examination and penitence, demonstrated by self-denial, in preparation for Easter.

Last year I decided to give up reading the Bible for Lent — which caused a small stir among some of my friends.  As I considered how I might participate in Lent this year I shared that I was contemplating what to do for Lent on Facebook. My friend Brandon Mouser responded:

Be healthy and give up processed foods. It will give you a deeper appreciation for the food god made for us. :-)

Brandon is a friend who knows me well and is attune to the rhythms of my life. When I read his words, I knew this was the path I was to take. To go 100% unprocessed food is beyond me at this point, so I decided to do something that is actually quite radical for me: giving up fast food. For me, this will be quite a feat ... everyone I've shared this with had a look of shock on their faces — and were quite excited about the prospect.

One of my first steps upon making this decision — which I believe to have great physical and spiritual implications— was to select some friends that I regularly interact with who would support my endeavor and provide valuable input. I am in the process of speaking with each one individually to discus how we can work together so that I might accomplish my purpose in this Lenten experiment.

My buddy Ivan and I have been having an ongoing discussion on independence, dependence and interdependence. I know I cannot do it alone. I also know that no one can do it for me. This is a case of shear interdependence which will include the spiritual discipline of submission on my part to those who I am confident have my best interest at heart.

Well, Lent has officially begun ... I am excited, and I know my life is about to make some dramatic changes. I will keep you updatd on my progress, contemplations and perhaps some revelations as the days move forward. Your thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated.