That... was not good.

Ever have one of those meals when you sit, post-mastication, wondering what in the hell just happened? I mean... how could you go wrong? Mushroom ragu (with real cream and parmesan cheese)? GOOD. Fresh spinach? GOOD. Polenta? GOOOOD. But somewhere in the mix, something went horribly array. It's a damn shame, too, considering all the calories. Sigh. Oh well.

On a different note, my friend Joy (who I swear I am not stalking, though I do reference her a whole lot) is introducing Vegan For Lent as a spiritual practice this year. Eating a plant-based diet as part of a lenten practice is a historical tradition starting back a few centuries after the time of Jesus. Here's a snippet of her Vegan For Lent guide, which will be downloadable at www.highlandschurchdenver.org after Sunday, March 06. Included are nutrition guidelines, Denver-area restaurants, food substitutions and over 40 recipes.

Room at the Table

The idea of abstinence is not based on what is lacking, but on what fills the space.  When we remove things from our lives, it creates room for whatever we choose. And when we abstain from elements of our meals, we create room for God at the table.

How many meals are eaten in a blur of activity, in the quick pause of a lunch break, or as we rush off to the next activity? These practices are far removed from the feasts of the Hebrew Bible or the table fellowship of Jesus’ time. It’s no wonder we seldom consider where our food came from, or what effects our food choices might have. Use this time not only to enjoy meals and those we share them with, but also to consider with an open mind what we are consuming, and to do so mindfully.

Simple Abundance

A diet based solely on plants might appear very austere at first glance, but consider the abundance found in nature and in the plant world. Think of a perfect plum, a garden-ripe heirloom tomato, or a rich, fatty avocado. These are the foods first given to humanity to eat, and they represent a simplicity we don’t often experience.

Jesus’ time in the desert was not about deprivation, but transformation. Likewise, this Lenten practice is not based on deprivation, but on the transformation that can occur when we find abundance in the midst of simplicity. Eating vegan creates the space for us to discover it. God is in the simplicity. God is in the abundance.

James and I will be doing this for Lent this year. If any of you are interested and want to dialogue about your experience, please let me know. We don't have any intention to permanently venture into vegan-dome, but at least for me, I just intend to enjoy the food provided by the earth. I hope to challenge my creativity in preparing meals without cheese (my staple and thigh-unfriendly ingredient). And I hope that in the process, I'll experience GOD in a new way. 

For any questions you might have in entering this journey, you can email Joy at veganforlent@yahoo.com.