91短视频

In preparation for his 40-day fast, which begins today, Ash Wednesday, has made a few changes to his recreational reading. This lawyer, ordained minister and executive director of the at 91短视频 favors non-fiction and legal thrillers.

Recently, however, Byler has been meditating on the 鈥� the faith tradition of President Donald J. Trump 鈥� and listening to the thoughts and ideologies that Trump has expressed in his many books.

Listening is just one of a few simple actions Byler will focus on for the next 40 days.

Each day, Byler will also publish 140 words, based on聽the lectionary聽and the theme of healing justice. He鈥檒l post them to the聽 and then 聽a聽link聽to Trump, Trump鈥檚 spiritual advisors, and a host of others, conservative and liberal alike.

鈥淚鈥檇 like to see President Trump begin to work collaboratively with our diverse leaders to heal this country鈥檚 deep divisions and inequalities,鈥� Byler said. 鈥淭he president needs to set the tone, but the healing that this country needs is everybody鈥檚 business. The justice issues are broad systemic issues. We can鈥檛 address one without working on the other.鈥�

Byler says he turns to fasting, considered one of the great spiritual disciplines with prayer and meditation, when 鈥渁ction is uncertain.鈥�

鈥淔asting for me is a way of centering and calling attention to important issues,鈥� Byler said. 鈥淭ypically in the Bible, fasting is used at a time when there does seem to be a lot at stake, as an expression of placing oneself in a posture of deeply listening to God and one鈥檚 self and to others.鈥�

The listening is an important action as well, 鈥渨hich we don鈥檛 do enough of in this country.鈥�

He hopes the letters will invite a dialogue. Included in his list are Vice President Mike Pence, and prominent evangelicals Paula White, Jerry Falwell, Jr., James Dobson and Franklin Graham, among others.

鈥淲hile the letters are focused on the president,鈥� Byler said, 鈥渉e alone is not responsible for the divisions in the country or to work at healing and justice. We are all responsible.鈥�

This is not Byler鈥檚 first fast in times of inner and outer turmoil: he made a 40-day Fast for Peace in 2003, as the United States was building a case for engaging in the Iraq War. At the time, he was head of Mennonite Central Committee鈥檚 Washington D.C. office.

His fast, shared on the MCC website, drew attention from Mennonites but also 鈥渕oving letters鈥� from others of many faiths around the world. 鈥淧articularly the people in the Middle East were grateful for someone paying attention to a war that was going impact their region, and doing this in a spiritual form they were familiar with.鈥�

Byler already knows the effect of this fast on his body and mind: 鈥淏ecause I鈥檝e done this before, I know that for me the process is one of great centering and focus, of seeking discernment and guidance.鈥�

He invites people to join him for a day or more, and to on his blog.

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