January 2008

The Family Foundation School Catholic Community Bulletin

Pauca Verba – ( A Few Words)

Can you do it?

*Fasting during Lent is a visible and physical way of accompanying Jesus in the forty day wilderness.

*Fasting is a kind of de-tox, which is good for us.

*Fasting reminds us of our heavenly home where there are no physical cravings.

*Fasting lets us see just how attached we are – even addicted we are to sugar.

*Fasting invites discipline – which we sorely lack. Funny how disciplined we can be to get ready for soccer, but when it comes to a not eating a cookie – ha, ha, ha – we crumble!

*Fasting invites us to charity – as a donation will be made to Amazon Relief – in the name of  each student who pledges and fulfills the forty day SUGAR FAST. Amazon Relief serves thousands of lepers and desperate families in wretched communities throughout Brazil’s Amazon region.

*Fasting leaves us empty: our ultimate emptiness is an emptiness without God. Our ultimate craving is for God.

*Maybe you’ve never done anything for Lent before – keeping this fast will give you a wonderful sense of accomplishment on Easter Sunday. For once – not being a quitter. Finishing something you started. You can learn a lot about yourself by not eating any sugar for forty days!

What are we fasting from? Here’s the list:

No white sugar

No brown sugar

No sugar substitutes

No hot chocolate

No syrup

No cake (or other pastry)

No cookies

No chewy bars

No outright candy

No jello

No sugar cereals

No pudding (bread pudding is ok)

No whipped cream

No colored juice (orange juice and apple juice are ok)

No ice cream

Did I miss something?

It’s important to leave people alone during the sugar fast and not to advertise that you are doing it. Jesus says, “Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing; keep your deed of mercy secret.” No bragging. No announcements. No drawing attention to yourself. No drama. We should not be commenting on what others are doing. Make sure only about yourself and that you are doing the fast well. In other words, “mind your own business.”

Remember – how do I expect to stay away from cocaine for the rest of my life if I can’t abstain from sugar for 40 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We will experience real cravings during Lent – because our so many of us  are addicted to sugar. Pray for the others who are undertaking the fast along with you. Pray for people whose craving is for killing drugs and other passions. Pray that our passions would be lessened. Ask God to lift the craving in you. And it matter too – that while I’m not eating sugar in it’s various forms that I’m not increasingly moody, nasty, mean, short-fused, etc. Bigger than the sugar fast itself, what I discover about my inner self is very important – that I’m immature, needy, dependent, weak. Maybe I’m even afraid as I think about even the idea of forty days without sugar.

Do Sundays count? YES. We’ve “gone all the way” with other things – then go all the way with this. Does the sugar fast apply if I go out to eat with my family?  YES.

But we need some sugar in our diet. That’s right. Eat more fruit. You may have honey – but only in the amounts the school already allows. No special entitlements, “Oh, I need more honey because I’m doing the sugar fast.” Can you hear the whining?

Soooooo – the sugar fast begins on February 6. Are you on board? Pick up an index card