Not So Fast – This is Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins, and Rev. Shannon Baxter, our Pastor of Hospitality and Operations delivers the homily.  Shannon begins by citing a number of examples when, in our lives we were likely told, “Not so fast!”  Moving quickly can mean we aren’t paying attention to something that needs our attention.  Lent is a season when much of the focus is on fasting, and many give up something, like chocolate, for Lent.  The scripture from Isaiah 58 is very critical of the people who think their fasting is laudatory, but God’s word through Isaiah says that the people really need to be paying attention to the needs of others around them.  Isaiah warns that the act of fasting is not done to be noticed by God but to increase the faith of those fasting by moving their attention to God’s love for us and for others, and to move the focus of those fasting to the needs of others.  We need to love others as God loves others.