The Whole Forty

The Whole Forty.

It's here and it's now, a time-sensitive approach and tailored just for you.

But don't worry: this is no diet plan.

It's a Whole new Way of defining food.

Yes, the Whole Forty can be challenging,

but leaning in now can maximize the experience.

We will learn to minimize superficial fillers

and spot our trends toward immediate gratification.

The Whole Forty....wait...

are you backing away just yet, unsure about the commitment?

Join the club.

Because in contrast with the fanfare of Mardi Gras

and the stores already dressed for Easter,

the Whole Forty appears drab or colorless by comparison,

uncomfortably quiet in contrast, and kind of a long stretch of time.

Why not just fast-forward to the Feast?

Get to the Good part?

It's understandable, your hesitation and mine.

But we know undeniably that this Whole Forty

is The Holy Forty, the 40 days between now and Easter.

It's too special to skip.

There's something about this Time, Faith tradition reminds us:

Floods give way to new life;

Wilderness experiences show new ways to live;

Obstacle courses reveal the Power of what's inside;

and death is not the end it seems.

Our Faith reminds us:

This. Is. Us.

This. Can. Be. Us. Too.

But enter in, do - someway, somehow

to the Holy Forty, the remaining 40 days.

And yes, the focal point. Is Food.

But not just any kind.

The food of our focused Forty is this:

"I have food that you know nothing about." - Jesus, John 4:32

This food. That's our 40-day focus.

Sure, the disciples had a 3-4 year training period,

but this Holy Forty is a Good start:

finding answers for ourselves,

fixing our attention on the Mystery, and

following crumbs of insight to realize something Wise.

"I have food that you know nothing about."

When Jesus spoke this to the hangry disciples,

things were making less and less sense to them.

First it was a gentle, "Come, Follow Me."

And then Jesus began breaking all kinds of rules.

First, the well in Samaria (gasp!)

to wait for water from a Samaritan woman (gulp!)

who'd be the first witness to the Messiah. (Glory!)

This woman knows within minutes that This Is the Christ.

Just as she runs out to tell everyone, the disciples run in, ready for lunch.

And then this strange statement.

"I have food which you know nothing about."

The disciples know the God-Man needs the fuel of humans.

But He isn't hiding food in His Holy pocket.

He's consuming His Holy Purpose.

The God-Man needs the fuel of God.

And the more the disciples spend time with the Messiah, the more curious they are:

What energizes this Man's Whole Being?

What fuels His every thought, word and action?

How does he flow like the Spirit is moving Him?

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. John 4:34

The Messiah is God's Message wrapped up in Man-skin. God's Will, Embodied.

And when our food is God's Will, it's about God's Will-Power in us and for us.

And when our food is God's Way, our ways change.

And when our food is God's Word, ingested over time, it all works together for Good.

This Food makes all other food make sense.

The Whole Forty, the Holy Forty.

You see, each of 40 days and 40 nights can be customized to fit you uniquely.

It's personal. Private. Between you and the God of This Food.

And honestly, it can start whenever, wherever and however you wish to begin.

(The Father's arms are always open wide.)

It can be as simple as a daily, "Fuel us to Love You and Live like You, Lord."

Or a Lenten devotional.

Or committed quiet time.

Or journaling daily to inquire about Your Purpose.

But do begin, Do ~ and as you do,

May it energize your being;

May it impact your every word, thought and action.

And may you feel the spirit moving you...