Two Lenten Challenges

St. Symeon the Stylite Challenge

St. Symeon the Stylite was a monk living in Syria in the 5th Century.  A great ascetic and an example to the other monastics and laity, he eventually moved his cell to the top of a pillar to avoid the crowds who came to see him and get his advice every day.  Following his example of living in the city but trying to stay away from the constant barrage of information, chatter, and disturbances, a priest in Arizona came up with the St. Symeon the Stylite Challenge.  Rather than climb up to the top of a pillar, commit for one hour every day during Great Lent and Holy Week without screen time (smart phones, laptops, iPad, computer, TV, etc.).  It would be the same hour each day (but not while you are sleeping).  The purpose is to limit our contact with information and the addiction we have to our various screens.  Imitating St. Symeon, we find freedom from the tyranny that our devices have over us.  For those who take on this challenge and keep it every day during the Fast, Father David will give you an icon of St. Symeon the Stylite after Pascha.

Fast One Full Day Challenge

Great Lent is a time of prayer and fasting.  Many of us keep the fast from certain foods, but do we ever fully fast—that is, go without any food for a period of time?  In monasteries, it is typical to fully fast from all food starting on Pure Monday morning and ending after the Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday.  On other weekdays during Lent, only one meal after Vespers would be eaten—and that according to the Lenten restrictions.  For those living in the world and working each day, this is a difficult regiment to take on—and quite honestly, the monks can go eat something if they need on those strict fast days (the fast is a gift, not a law).  For this challenge, pick a weekday in Great Lent in which you can go totally without food for 24 hours (from the time you get up one morning until the time you get up the next morning).  You can have coffee, tea, and water, but try to stay away from all food.  Yes, you will be hungry.  That is the purpose.  This is voluntary self-denial—and by doing so, we can join with our Lord who told the devil that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."  How often does food hold great power over us?  This is a chance to fight back from the tyranny of our own flesh.  Be sure to add prayer to your fasting.  Fasting alone is meaningless unless it makes us more reliant on God.  Diabetics, pregnant and nursing mothers, and the elderly and infirm should not take this challenge on.