Fasting technically

Today Tearfund has launched its annual Lent Carbon Fast.   Do take a look at their website www.tearfund.org/carbonfast.   Church leaders from across the Christian church in the UK have signed up to the idea that together millions of us could make a big difference by doing small things...

There is a menu of possibilities to guide us through the 40 days from going iPod-free for a day to becoming a part-time veggie to writing to your MP. You can’t mistake the sense of fun which has been injected into the serious business of carbon control.  And neither can you escape the fact that for many people who will give it a try this will feel a little bit like a token.

But what’s wrong with that?   Who said that tokenism is all bad?  And who says we can’t tackle serious educational issues and lifestyle change with a sense of light entertainment?

There is a sense for many of us that the only way to deal with injustices is to be a pain in everybody else’s neck; to become perennial prophets of doom who cast dark clouds with every conversation we have.  But as any good children’s educational programme will tell you, the secret of learning and lifestyle transformation is often to relish the process. Sustainable transformation is impossible without the experience of fulfilment and well being in the process.

Last year in the middle of the greatest world recession in 30 years, Comic Relief in the UK broke their record in giving to charitable causes.

The great message of Carbon Fast this lent is that we should all enjoy the change.