Day 29: Four Week Update

The nuts and bolts news after four weeks:

• The new normal?  In many ways the fasting has become second nature.  I'm actually kind of used to it, I guess.  In some ways it really does not seem like that big of a deal anymore.  Don't get me wrong . . . I am in no way entertaining the idea of making this a permanent lifestyle change.  It's just that right now I seem to be getting to a point where I am thinking less and less about eating. Hunger really does not bother me throughout the day and I have become so accustomed to eating late and after everyone else that I have learned to cope and patiently wait it out.  What has intensified are the insights I am receiving throughout each day.

• Rumbling and stumbling.  I apologize if any of my recent entries seem a bit disjointed or rambling.  I am trying to be as honest as I can in conveying my experience without providing too many unnecessary details.  At the same time, I am noticing that my observations are much more open-ended and fluid and not concrete and definitive.  I set out on this journey without any specific expectations of what the fasting would bring and I truly don't know what I am going to write about from one day to the next.  Most of what I jot down is a mere shadow of my overall experience and I am attempting to represent the highlights as well as I can.

• Almsgiving.  I have written much about my prayer and fasting during this Lent but up to this point I have not mentioned a third practice in which Catholics are encouraged to participate during Lent:  almsgiving.  Right now I am thinking that this should somehow be connected to the total value of the lunches I have been forgoing.  I also have been thinking that any donation should go to an organization that works to combat hunger.  Any suggestions?

• Be careful what you wish for.  As of Friday there will be 13 hours of sunlight each day.  At that point an hour and twenty-three minutes of daylight will have been added since Ash Wednesday. Back in February I was sick and tired of all the darkness and I recall being anxious for more daylight.  What was I thinking?!

• And the scale says . . . Looks like I am down another two pounds since last week.  That brings my  total weight loss to nine pounds in four weeks.  Some people say they are starting to notice that I have lost a bit of weight.  

• Thanks again.  I am humbled by the nearly 900 page views in four weeks.  I not only appreciate you showing an interest but your thoughts, prayers and support are also deeply meaningful. Only two and a half weeks remain until Easter!