beyond kid stuff

After spending Tuesday reflecting on the events and memories of 9/11 I woke up Wednesday feeling free from the confinement of my closet and consumerism.  I was starting to feel a sense of frustration by Tuesday afternoon with my clothes.  And Wednesday I woke up without a care over what I was wearing.  Yes, I'm definitely sickof my white/black gingham sundress and I'm pretty sure I looked like a 5th grader walking into work in my oh so casual ensemble, but I didn't care. I'm growing closer to God and deeper in my personal relationship with him not by limiting my wardrobe to 7 articles of clothing but because my focus is reshifted from over-thinking, over-stressing and over-analyzing the mundane things we all face on a day to day basis. 

Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. ~Matthew 6:16-18

 

This verse really speaks to the last 10 days of my fast.  In the beginning I was thinking about what others would percieve of the fast.  I was excited for the support and kind words I was recieving from friends.  Now that we're in the heart of the fast it's become "one on one" with me and God. Reading this verse makes me think perhaps I shouldn't have shared what I was doing with anyone, but my purpose for sharing it was to 1) have friends hold me accountable 2) get feedback and thoughts from my friends and others and 3) sharing this experiment may open the door for another person to jump on the crazy 7 bandwagon! 

The important factor I've gained from this verse is that bottom line it's about my personal relationship with Christ and the reactions of the world won't make a difference in how this ultimately changes and affects my lifestyle.  I could chalk this fast up to be some extradorinary awakening but I am finding this is subtle and it's less than obvious impact is stirring up a wave of gratitude within me. 

                                                                 
                                                        Day 11: All that's missing is pigtails!