I would just like to announce to the world that I have successfully made it to "the other side" of my experiment in exploring vegetarianism. As I discussed in my previous essay, I've never really observed the Lenten tradition. However, I understood this Lenten season to be an invitation of sorts in exploring what it means to be a vegetarian (on a trial period type of basis). The whole experience was an attempt to become more mindful of what I was eating, why I was eating it, why I need to eat it, and where it came from. I saw my experiment of being a vegetarian as being a natural extension of such an effort.

I've never been a big fan of meat, or of consuming it. The preparation of meat has always made me a bit queasy and conversations about meat, specifically while at the dinner table ("This chicken is really tender"), has always made me a bit uncomfortable. However, I was unsure how I would do giving it up entirely. Even when it comes to ones food habits, it's a bit frightening to venture out into the unknown like that, becoming something that you have never been, unsure of how the world will perceive you and fearful of failing.

To be honest, I was surprised at how easily being a vegetarian came to me. Almost immediately after the Lenten season began, it all became almost like second nature to me. I began to wonder, "Why haven't I tried this before?"

Perhaps I am simply naive, but I did not anticipate the reactions of others to be what they were. Some people were very supportive, offering excellent recipe suggestions or a bit of nutritional advice to be aware of. However, most people seemed unsure as to what to think of the whole idea. They would tilt their heads and look at me as if eating meat were part of an American life, and anything less was just simply inappropriate. A few even went so far as to wonder, "Why would you want to do something like that?" I thought many of these reactions were quite humorous because people can sometimes be so ludicrous in how they react to that which may be a bit out of the ordinary, that I couldn't help but laugh.

So, now that my trial period of Lent is over, I think I'm going to try out this experience of being a vegetarian a bit longer. At first I thought, "Well, maybe I'll try to just not eat as much meat from now on." However, it was then that I realized that I was only fearful of making such a large commitment because I was scared of failure. There really isn't any way I could fail. Even if I only make it as a vegetarian for another two months or so, I will have undoubtably learned more than I knew at the beginning. This whole learning experience began as an effort be more mindful, so why not extend such an effort to the point in which I may no longer feel called to be a vegetarian (if such a point exists)?

To a certain extent, it's not really even about the meat. It's about exploring this choice that I have: Do I want to eat meat, or not? All of my life, I have eaten meat and, until a few years ago, I never really questioned this idea. It's can be so easy to live our lives, taking for granted that we are one thing, until we try something different, and discover that we are not, in fact, what we originally found to be true. For example, in high school, I was very shy. I always took it for granted that I was simply a shy person, because others, in trying to help me accept this aspect of my personality, told me that is simply who I was. However, when I came to college I discovered, much to my surprise, that I am quite outgoing.

While the idea of exploring my options has proven to be helpful in discovering the world of vegetarianism and the development of my personality, it has also proven to be essential in the evolution of my faith thus far. I would never be where I am on my spiritual journey had I not ventured out beyond my comfort zone, leaving myself very vulnerable to find the honest, authentic faith for which I had been searching (but had not been aware I was searching for) and coming to a greater and deeper understanding of God and who I knew her to be.

All I'm saying is that we need to explore our options, before making a decision as to who we are and what we are about.

Katie Griffin is a member of the Student Ecumenical Partnership (STEP) Leadership Team and is a member of Bethany Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Evansville, Indiana.