With the fasnachts eaten, the time to begin fasting begins today.

But do we really fast? The only time one hears about fasting in the news is when a prisoner or celebrity stops eating to raise awareness for a cause — be it a jail sentence or some other injustice.

For Christians, Lent begins the 40-day period of preparation for Easter. The fasting symbolizes the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness following his baptism. It is a time for introspection and repentence. With that comes growth.

Many of us give up something for Lent. For some it is sweets. For others, alcohol. Some have even given up — or attempted to foreswear — swearing.

The Lenten season coincides with the rebirth of spring — flowers emerge, grass greens and trees break out in bloom. It thus represents a contradiction: We deny ourselves things at a time when beauty is coming back into the world; at a time when we want to indulge.

The ability to fast or refrain from indulging is a form of self-discipline that is often lost in the instant-gratification world we now inhabit.

But those who take part come to understand the pull of temptation and the strength needed to persevere. And they come away with a greater appreciation for that which they have denied themselves.