Yep. There it was, in the inspirational book rack. No time to thumb through it, but immediately my mind began to wonder. If it was easy, wouldn’t it quickly lose its purpose? Isn’t the reason for fasting that it is a concentrated time period in which we give up food to focus on something, someone — our lives, God? Wouldn’t making it easy diminish its effect, undermine its purpose?
Now, I weigh 300+ pounds, so there are many that would recommend that I begin fasting — and soon! I believe that’s called dieting, and even that makes me shudder, although I realize that addressing eating habits and exercise is in order.
Fasting is built into our lifestyle. For most of us, once in each 24-hour period we fast, after which we break the fast with a simple meal called breakfast. Many who undergo medical procedures are often required to fast, to some degree, by restraining from eating (or drinking) so many hours before the test.
The book, however, was written by a doctor, who I assume to be a professed Christian (because it was on the inspirational book rack), and who has attempted to address the Biblical directive of fasting, yet somehow taking the edge off of the unpleasantness of it. Again I ask, is fasting supposed to be easy?
I must admit, I struggle with the whole idea of religious fasting. It was a regular part of the life of the Old Testament Jew, and Jesus gave instructions to not look like we’re fasting when we do, because it draws attention to ourselves. But for me it seems that going without food voluntarily would only put you in a position of focused thinking — about the food, not God. I can understand the urge to pray if you are truly starving and without food. And I know that eating too much, or too much of a certain thing, can make you sleepy and unable to pray. I just don’t see how going for many hours, with stomach growling, when you know that satisfying it is a quick fix — how your spiritual being is heightened or enlightened.
Still, I don’t recall ever actually trying it. Maybe I should. Right after dinner.
Read more about: the journey
