Beginning Anew

I did not fast today for Yom Kippur; I haven't fasted in years. The point of fasting (as least as far as I recall) is so that you can allow yourself to focus only the spiritual aspects of the holy day instead of the physical. I fasted for many Yom Kippurs, but I found that all the fast did was make me keenly aware of how hungry I was. I became grouchy and distracted instead of calm and inward-focused. The fast ended up becoming "the thing" instead of eliminating "the thing." So I gave up the fast many years ago.

Today I made a point to tell my family members that I was sorry for anything I'd done in the past year that was hurtful or wrong. I apologized. I promised to try harder this year, to do better. I encouraged them to do the same—what a great religion this is, where you can start fresh with a clean slate every single year! If you truly atone for your sins, both publicly and privately, you are absolved.

Here I go.

Comments

[Margaret]

I think we all should do that! There isn't enough sincere atonement in this world.

[Elena]

Catholics can receive absolution any time through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Sadly, it seems that fewer and fewer Catholics avail themselves of it. Maybe we should have a particular day where we focus on this too.