Hello Steem people 😀!!!

How are you today? I am sure you are all doing well, especially if you started the Lent fasting already 😊 !!! 

  Well I have to say that when I was writing the "Holy Lent and Healthy Eating!!! Which type are you?" I didn't expect such a warm embrace by so many of you, thank you for that!!!!   

  I just wrote it because it was something I was about to start and since I am here in Steemit, with all my heart, body and soul, I want you to be aware for things I do 😀!       

Now some of you, requested or I should better say, suggested that I should come up with a second post dedicated to the Spiritual part of the fasting period and I completely agreed with it! 

So I tried to give my best, in order to compose a post with the respect and importance a subject like that acquires!   

What is Spiritual Fasting?   

I am sure this is a term that most of the people are not very familiar with! When we think of fasting what comes to our mind? Absence from food mainly if not completely, right?   

But to me, is not just absence of food. Well here I have to say that there are times that I do fast with just plain water but I have never done it for more than a couple of days!  

So to come back to the Lent fasting, I would describe it as a better selection of the quality of food that I choose to put inside my body!   

But in the same way that I try to cleanse and empower my body, especially during Lent, I try to cleanse my soul! And by saying that, I mean simply trying to be as pure, good and kind with myself and others! I know it sounds beautiful and simple right?   😀  

  Only God knows though, how difficult it can be, for each and every one of us in our everyday lives!     

Αbsence, Presence and Attendance!  

I believe that it doesn't only have to do with absence! Actually sometimes it doesn't have to do with absence at all but with presence and attendance!

 There is a small list other than food absence, of what we shouldn't do, I can give a few important examples:      

•  Speaking in inappropriate and disrespectful ways. 
•  Lying to others and speak ill of them (and not just behind their backs).  
• Having bad, scandalous and dirty thoughts.   
• Overly celebrating, since this is a period of mourning. 
• Having intercourse (I know you will tell me that's farfetched, it is what it is though )   

  But there is also another small list of things we should be doing, be present and attend!  A few  examples are below:     

• Be genuinely kind to others.  
• Be caring towards people, especially the ones in need (irrelevant if we personally know them or not). 
• Help people in any way we possibly can (visits to hospitals, shelters amd camps with food, clothing items for example). 
• Attending the Mass.  
• And of course Praying!!!    

The power of Praying 

Speaking about praying, there is a prayer from Saint Ephrem the Syrian that to me, includes everything that, the cleansing of the Soul acquires in a few words only!!! 

Below are both the original script in Greek and a translation in English that I did and I trid to keep the quintessence of the prayer intact 😊! 

       «Κύριε καὶ Δέσποτα τῆς ζωῆς μου, πνεῦμα ἀργίας, περιεργείας, φιλαρχίας καὶ ἀργολογίας μή μοι δῶς.Πνεῦμα δὲ σωφροσύνης, ταπεινοφροσύνης, ὑπομονῆς καὶ ἀγάπης, χάρισαί μοι τῷ σῷ δούλῳ.Ναί, Κύριε Βασιλεῦ, δώρησαί μοι τοῦ ὁρᾶν τὰ ἐμὰ πταίσματα, καὶ μὴ κατακρίνειν τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, ὅτι εὐλογητὸς εἶ, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν».             

Dear Father and Lord of my life, do not give me spirit of sloth,bad curiosity, meddling, love of power, and idle talk.  But give to me, your servant, a pirit of sober-mindedness, humility, patience, and love.  Yes, O Father and lord of my life, give me the wisdom to see my own faults and not to judge my brother, since you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen.     

 

 This prayer is said twice at the end of each Easter Lent from Monday to Friday.  

It condems:

•  Sloth 
•  Spirit of despondency 
•  Love of power
•  Argalogy / Idle talk

And then the prayer moves to the positive purposes of repentance!

•  Satisfaction    
•  Humility  
•  Patience     
•  Love  
•  Pride     

    I could continue writing about spiritual fasting and get into more details about what the Orthodox Church follows this period of Lent but I fear that could be a bit tiring to some of you, and we don't want that, do we?     

 But I guess you know how it goes, if you want it, you can always ask for it  😉!!! 

  Coming to the epilogue of my post, I have to say that Fasting is a personal thing! You cannot force anyone into it or judge people that do not choose to practice it!    

  We all have the freedom of choice and at the end of the day, Jesus spoke only about Love!!!!! Acceptance and respect are from the principles of Love, am I right?   

 So let's focus on that, fasting or not, be kind, be loving and be caring to each other   😚!!! 

Until my next post, always keep shining with a big smile on your face and most of all, be the best you can be 😀 ❤ ❤!!!  

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Sources:

http://www.orthodoxos.com.gr/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=2969

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_of_Saint_Ephrem