The church tradition looks at lent as an important moment for preparing the celebration of Easter. It is a long period of 40 days in which the faithful undergoes a process of conversion to God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Its aim is the communion with God, but consequently, Lent is also a time of personal improvement. Thus, I have always considered it an important time. I have also noticed how Lent is a time of grace for dismissing negative habits that are difficult to uproot.
I am fascinated by the idea of fasting. Fasting refers to lessening food, but it can be extended to other elements of our life such as tv, time spent for amusement, use of gadgets, small addiction… Fasting from what is linking us is an important exercise of freedom. Freedom? Yes, freedom! It is a practice that frees us from slavery.
In fact, we live as slaves of many things. We consider our life and happiness dependent on many supportive tools and tutors. Some people think that they cannot be happy without watching that serial, or without an expensive cellphone, or will not survive some days without a connection to the Net. Some others think that they badly need a cake or drink. Some others believe that they will not survive without cigarettes. Advertisements all over tell us all our “needs” and are creating new ones: cars, men and women, vacation, money, entertainment… Without all of this, they say, we cannot be ourselves; we cannot have a happy life. This process of “inducing needs" is the foundation of our consumeristic lifestyle.
The world tells us we need all this stuff to survive. But a person who needs many tools and machinery for breathing or standing is not a healthy person. Those who need crutches, a wheelchair, or a prothesis to move or stand are not in good shape, while those who need a respirator for breathing are very ill. Needing all these tools is never a sign of good health, autonomy… freedom.
Fasting from some of all these things that the world is telling us we need, but in fact, are not essential to live, is an exercise of personal freedom. It means becoming more aware that I can stand and walk properly, even without many things. So Lenten season, rather than a heroic exercise, is the moment of grace for rediscovering my dignity as a person strong enough to live without depending on what the world is trying to sell out to me. It is the discovery that I need to use things and not become their slave. It is the discovery that my dignity of being a prince or a princess, the child of the King of kings, is great enough: a new car, a new watch, a new dress, a vacation in an exotic place, a glass of alcohol or a cigarette cannot make it increase in any way. It is the rediscovery that the essential thing in my life is the communion with God.
Sometimes, I imagine freedom like this: standing in front of a beautiful guitar (I like guitars) in a music shop with all the freedom and money in my pocket to buy it, and then tell the guitar in my imagination: “You are beautiful… but I do not need you! The old one that I have at home is more than enough and plays well!” This is freedom. Freedom to choose, freedom not to be compelled to buy, eat, enjoy, consume, use… It is freedom from the slavery of things and of people telling me what to do and what to buy and consume.
I conclude by saying that this year, my personal commitment focuses on something essential: from time to time, I recall to my mind that God is Love and loves me immensely. By doing so, I force myself to believe on His loving gaze on me, especially when I feel down, lonely, or make a mistake. I have noticed that my outward behavior has not changed much and that the failures are still somewhat the same, but all in all, I am more serene: I fail, but I perceive that I am loved all the same by an infinite Love. Thus, I am becoming more aware that I am not an orphan but a beloved child. Moreover, by feeling the love of God for me, I notice that my inner freedom is growing. I do not need much to live since I already have everything: my father is the King of kings.
