February 23 Krum Star
Article
"Oh for some Caffeine!"
Fasting—intentionally
denying ourselves something pleasurable for a period of
time for the purpose of spiritual growth or insight—is
almost an unknown concept today. That is not to say that
people are not trying to deny themselves pleasurable things.
All we’ve got to do to take a look at the shelf
of diet books in the local library or bookstore to know
that. And then there is the very detrimental fasting that
can accompany eating disorders. That’s a scary and
often devastating process.
But there is another kind of
fasting that actually does do much good. Many Christians
around the world practice some type of fast in the weeks
leading to Easter. It’s a part of a period of discipline
that ideally both removes something and adds something
to the individual’s daily life. For example, one
could choose not to eat a favorite food (and choosing
NOT to eat Brussels Spouts does NOT count unless they
are your favorite food!), and also add a special period
of reading and reflection each day, or a time to take
a walk, or to write in a journal or to do some extra service
projects or volunteer work in the local community.
What happens when we engage
in these activities? Sometimes, at least for those of
us of a certain age, we discover just how deeply some
habits are ingrained because of the withdrawal symptoms.
For years, I’ve chosen to fast from any caffeinated
drinks during Lent. And each year, I’m totally shocked
by the severity of the headache that shows up—and
I’ve never really been that addicted to such products.
But even the little I take in each day affects my physical
functioning. This is a good wake-up call. But more profoundly,
it teaches me on some level what it is like to deal with
addicting substances, and how complex the challenge to
stay away from them.
I’ve known of those who
have chosen to intentionally go to bed hungry each night.
They battle the discomfort because it teaches them compassion
for those who go to bed hungry, not out of choice, but
because there simply isn’t food available. The heart
is enlarged through such a process.
Others who have chosen extra
service projects discover a new love, a new openness to
different people and experiences.
What may be most important
about the whole fasting process is that with some regularity
we may discover that temptation to forget the whole thing
becomes too strong. We may then violate the promises of
fasting made to ourselves and God. This teaches us about
grace, about forgiving ourselves so we are open to receiving
forgiveness from God.
We are just pretty well surrounded
by a media culture that says, “Get what you want
and get it NOW!!!!” Immediate gratification becomes
the norm—self-discipline that teaches us to delay
the immediate pleasure for a far greater one doesn’t
seem to be as evident. Yet that kind of discipline yields
so much more—from this, our lives have opportunity
to bloom from deeper and healthier roots. There’s
nothing like a fast to kick-start the process.
And if you see me knocking
back a caffeinated drink in the next few weeks, feel free
to ask, “Hey, Christy, how’s the fast coming!”
