Lent is my favorite time of the year. It's an introverted perfectionist's paradise, chock full of ascetic self-discipline and white-knuckled soul-searching. All of the things that bring me true joy in life!

My Lenten commitment is to tighten the screws on my rickety machine.

Food

Goal: Rice only every day for lunch (except when I'm invited to lunch, when the graciousness demanded by the invitation precludes saying "no, I'm fasting"), fewer sweets, more water.

So far: Doing OK. First day or two on rice and water felt great. Felt the sugary madness leave me. I even hungered for healthier dinners... which is rare for me—I only ever hunger for fatty, sugary things. The last few days have been a struggle. Rice has felt forced and unfulfilling. This is not a complete shock, I might add.

Daily Devotional

Goal: Daily readings from "The Manhood of the Master," by Harry Emerson Fosdick—don't sweat the title... it's from 1913 and Fosdick was his era's most famous Christian progressive.

So far: Love Fosdick. The first week is on the joy that Jesus derived from his life and ministry and how that contributed to his character. Today's passage used the beatitudes to describe the deep joy that comes from obedience to God and from Jesus' own boundless hope for the future. The upshot? Dedication to God, self-giving love, brings pure joy!

Emotional Life

Goal: Examine the dialectical relationship between anxiety and love in my life—wondering and experimenting with how they may be related. Does lowering one increase the other? Can they both be high at the same time?

So far: Anxiety these days comes in spades because of our little girl's health. But that also seems clearly related to the love I have for her and for her mother. Anxiety, for me, is bred from a lack of control... but love, to be love, cannot control its object. I love, therefore, I worry. The Bible says that "perfect love casts out fear," so perhaps all human love, even love within a family, is imperfect?

I hope you're on your own journey during Lent. If you're blogging about it, send me the link. By all means, come Wednesday night for worship at 6:15 and a special Lent-only small group right afterward in Peale Parlor.