On fasting well

So here's some wisdom that usually circulates this time of year:

Fast from worry, feast on divine order by trusting in God.
Fast from complaining, and feast on appreciation.
Fast from unrelenting pressures, and feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from bitterness, and feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern, and feast on compassion for others.
Fast from shadows of sorry, and feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from idle gossip, and feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from emphasis on differences, and feast on the unity of life.
Fast from apparent darkness, and feast on the reality of light.
Fast from judging others, and feast on the Christ within them.
Fast from thoughts of illness, and feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute, and feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from suspicion, and feast on truth.
Fast from discouragement, and feast on hope.

And Penitens offers a fascinating bit of Scripture to chew on- here's an excerpt:

Is this the manner of fasting I wish,
of keeping a day of penance:
That a man bow his head like a reed
and lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Do you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD?

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.

Enjoy your first Lenten Friday!