Fasting 1

One of the most well known practices for Lent is a fast from food. Traditionally to fast means to have one full meal a day and two smaller meals which together may equal one meal; meat was also abstained from on Fridays. Sunday is not a fast day as it is a celebration of the resurrection or a “mini Easter”.

Many children were taught to give “something” up for lent usually candy or soda. Many adults base their current observation (or not) of Lent based upon what they were told as a child.

Given the lack of a reasonable justification for abstaining from food given to them when they were a child many “new thoughters” reject the notion of fasting or abstaining from food and state they observe a “metaphysical” fast. This is in alignment with the Roman Catholic notion that the “deepest fast is the fast from sin, and it is above all the mind and heart that need to be cleansed by surrendering the illusory foods they love to feed on.” (Father Robert Pelton, Roman Catholic priest of the Mount Madonna House Community) though they also practice physical fasting.

Jesus took fasting for granted as it was the general custom among the people in those days. He is quoted as stating that when you fast no one else should be aware that you are fasting.

Emmet Fox explains that {in “Scientific Christianity” fasting is the abstention from certain thoughts, chiefly negative or error thoughts. He also states that physical fasting has occasionally been found helpful in the overcoming of a problem, especially what is a “chronic” difficulty when accompanied by a spiritual treatment (prayer) chiefly owing to the high degree of concentration that goes with a physical fast.”}

The Purpose of Lent is to increase our awareness of God’s presence in our life. In effect we are making a concerted effort to put God first. As this is a time of intensified awareness and practice would including the practice of some type of fasting from physical food be of assistance to you and perhaps to others?

Some simple fasts you might consider are a water fast (drink only water giving up coffee, soda etc.), no meat or other food on Fridays, eating one lighter meal a day. What if you then took the money you saved by drinking water and donated it to a program which drilled wells for third world villages to have clean water? Your spiritual practice would also be of benefit to someone else.

Have some fun designing your own activity.

Enjoy the journey!
John