Before

Here we are just 5 days into the 40 Day Fast (About something other than us) only this post is going to be about me.

Before the 40 Day Fast, I

• Didn't think twice about burning two pieces of toast, tossing them into the garbage and then trying one more time (but today I did)
  
• Never thought to start my day with a glass of cold water instead of downing a can of Diet Coke before I was even awake enough to taste it or to decide if I really wanted it (but yesterday I did)
  
• Blew through the grocery store grabbing our typical items without much thought, and ended up with way more junk food than real food much to my kids' happiness (but next time I'll slow down and shop smarter maybe)
  

And that's not all.

Each day I read another post and a string of comments that are totally changing me. Not just moving my heart, because that was already in a pretty good starting place. But it's all slowly invading my thoughts, my habits, my lifestyle, my lazy ways. Whatever amount of compassion I felt, no matter how strong, it didn't stand a chance when everything else about me was shouting, "No, not you. Not yet."

It is finally sinking in. Each one of us can make a difference. Each little bit counts. Each small thing helps. In fact, each small thing seems crucial. I didn't get that before...or didn't believe it. But now I do.

Which, now, makes this post totally about something other than me. And that's what it's all about.

Great Idea

Once I re-entered the blogosphere (again), it didn't take too long for me to check out Kat's blog. And just in time for an amazing idea she is presenting of a 40 day fast for her friends and readers in an effort to "take a long term stand against poverty."

For 40 days beginning on June 22nd, 40 bloggers will fast one day each and on that day will blog about a need, nation or cause and an organization addressing that need, nation or cause somewhere around the world. On each of the 40 days, all bloggers will post a link on their blog to the "fasting blogger" of that day. Kat then encourages everyone (including you!) to participate in fasting on the 40th day.

At first I only intended to follow along and then fast with everyone on July 31st, the 40th day. However, a song and a subsequent post by Kat inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and fully join in (I think I’m on her list!)

In her song, You Are the Sun, Sara Groves sings,

And I am the moon with no light of my own
Still you have made me to shine
And as I glow in this cold dark night
I know I can't be a light unless I turn my face to you

I listened to this song a few days ago and, although it wasn’t the first time I’d heard it, it was the first time it stuck with me in a way that felt something like, “So Marianne, when are you going to let God’s light shine through you…when are you just going to look Him face to face and let it happen?”

Then Kat mentioned using our blogs for something outside of ourselves and I knew what I wanted to do. How I wanted to start looking God face to face. How I wanted to start to shine.

Maybe these connections make no sense to you. That’s okay. But I’m going with it and I’m pretty certain in my own scattered way that it’s the beginning of something pretty exciting.

:-)