Originally uploaded by z_b on flickr.com
This time next week I can once again eat flour.
My Lenten fast will be over; and I can indulge in pizza, pasta, real bread with butter ... all those things I love.
You know what? I'm not overly excited.
In these past five weeks or so, I have erred only a very few times.
There was the Board meeting I attended where I scooped up a small handful of goldfish and realized what I had done after the tasty tidbits were swallowed. There was the business networking social where food choices were limited and I was starving, so I munched on two triangles of spanokopita with its phyllo pastry. There have also been some rare meals that have involved lightly breaded morsels, such as clams and okra. Oh, yes ... there was a luncheon at work that featured green salad, pasta salad, and wraps. I was famished and just couldn't digest (pardon the pun) eating only green salad, so I had servings of everything.
But that's it. Period.
I've eaten more beans and brown rice than I care to admit. There's been quite a bit of chicken; lots of salads; and lots of plain yogurt laced with honey, almonds, and apple chunks.
Truthfully? I feel better.
But during those starving periods when I've craved a slice of pizza or warm hot bread slathered in butter, I thought quite a bit about the majority of the world's people who have little to eat. How can I seriously complain about my lack of flour-based food when so many human beings would give their right arm for my supply of beans and rice?
After Good Friday, I may have a piece of bread or a slice of pizza, but I'll continue to think of the world's hungry people. This Lenten fast has made me very much aware of them. I'm sure I'll start making regular contributions to a worthy food ministry, such as Food for the Poor.
We're the most overweight nation on this planet. Maybe if people would nix the Twinkies and the worthless fast food, they'd be much healthier, happier, and more giving to those who need nourishment.
And it doesn't take a Lenten fast to do it.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
The Return of Flour and Empathy for the Hungry
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4 comments:
You are a good girl!!!! I really respect your self-discipline.
I've never been overweight in my life -- not even when I was preggers. I'm lucky to have an excellent metabolism!
I'll be sharing the ending of your fast with my kids tomorrow AM. I know that they will be so impressed! Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
Yes, thanks for sharing your fast with us. And what a great reminder to think of all that we have and how many have so little.
I gave up candy for Lent, something that no one needs. But I was amazed at all the times that I have been offered candy, chocolate, mints, all kinds of things over these weeks. I have noticed how much sugar is a part of my life - in tea and coffee and so many other things I eat and drink.
And as for the fast, fried, fattening, unhealthy food we eat in this country, my daughter and I were away this weekend, just 36 hours or so, but all the fast food restaurants we saw on the highway, all the cars lined up, all the very heavy people walking in and out. Yikes! As a nation, we could use a break from lots of bread and sugar and candy and soft drinks every now and then, couldn't we???
Was your energy level super high or did you really not notice since you stay pretty high energy anyway? Many people say they didn't realize they had wheat allergies until they stopped eating it.
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