Lent is here for Orthodox Christians.  By God’s grace, I am hoping to view the fast, during its entirety, as a blessing and an opportunity; in the past, I have had a tendency to focus on what I am “giving up.”  I was listening to the new podcast, “Wheat, Wine and Oil” with Martha Condra on Ancient Faith Radio. She mentioned that her priest commented that so many in the world would love to have our fasting foods to eat. I’m going to try and remember that when I find myself grumbling about eating tofu instead of meat.I have been Orthodox for almost 4 years (April 10th).   Each year that I’ve been Orthodox, I have read Way of the Ascetics by Tito Colliander during the pre-lenten period. For the first time, I have found myself reading this book with joy and hope. I find myself looking forward to Lent instead of dreading it. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t a little afraid of what I might discover about myself, about what attacks I might face. But, like Zacchaeus, I want to do whatever I can to see Christ.

I wish everyone a blessed fast. A quote from the opening lines of the first chapter of Way of the Ascetics:

If you wish to save your soul and win eternal life, arise from your lethargy, make the sign of the Cross and say: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.