And so it Begins

First off, I wanted to tell you all that I appreciated your comments and emails regarding yesterday's post.

I was a vegetarian for about eight years (during college and the years following).  While I was strict when I had a say about what went into my mouth, it was always very important to me that I didn't offend any one with my choice.  If we went to someone's house for dinner who didn't know I (or we, Jamey didn't eat meat for a portion of this time) was a vegetarian, I kept quiet and ate what I was served.  I didn't want to, but I felt the relationship was more important than my dietary preference.

"Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall". 1 Corinthians 8:13

Here Paul is talking about not leading a brother (or sister) into sin or guilt based on our food choices.  Barnes' Notes on the Bible interprets Paul's intention, "My eating meat is a matter of comparative unimportance. I can dispense with it.  It is of much less importance to me than happiness, a good conscience, and salvation are to my brother. And the law of love therefore to him requires me to deny myself rather than to be the occasion of leading him into sin. This is a noble resolution; and marks a great, disinterested, and magnanimous spirit. It is a spirit that seeks the good of all; that can deny itself; that is supremely anxious for the glory of God and the salvation of man, and that can make personal comfort and gratification subservient to the good of others. It was the principle on which Paul always acted; and is the very spirit of the self-denying Son of God."

And I believe this should go both ways.  We shouldn't let our food preferences hinder our relationships with anyone (vegetarian, vegan or meat-eater:-)).  

So, with all that said, I wanted to be clear that Forks Over Knives impacted my thinking about food and I wanted to share it with you.  I did NOT mean to cause anyone to doubt or feel guilty about their eating choices.  Our sisterhood and fellowship is much more important:-).

***************************

We've just entered Lent.  While Lent is often considered a time when we give something up, I think there is great importance in adding something as well.  Just like fasting is not merely not eating, it's to free us up to spend the time we would be eating in prayer.

I imagine many of you are giving something up for Lent or adding something to your Lenten experience and I would love for us to share these things with each other.  If you've taken something away, I'd love to challenge you to add something beneficial as well.

I'll go first.  For the past couple years, I've given up sweets to Lent.  Recently, I feel I have a good handle on sweets.  My new vice seems to be TV show series' I can watch instantly on Netflix (when the children and Jamey are off to bed).  Downton Abbey, for example.  SO.  This year for Lent, I'm not watching any TV shows or movies (except my Bible Study video segments and family watching of Little House on the Prairie).  In it's place I am super excited about having more quiet time, time to read and quality time with Jamey (and getting to bed earlier).

Okay, it's your turn, dearies.  What is helping you orient your lives towards what's important this season? Pin It