Despite the fact that I do it on a weekly basis during Lent, fasting is my least favorite of the spiritual disciplines. I know that a spiritual discipline is not designed to be fun but to add to spiritual growth but fasting seems to be the worst. Fasting is a battle of the wills: me versus the cookie jar. Even a twenty four hour fast is brutal. I’m not looking forward to Easter weekend where I traditional fast from services on Maundy Thursday to services on Easter morning. Especially since Brian and I are babysitting for his nieces and nephew that weekend.
One of the big reasons why fasting is so difficult is that it is a constant reminder of how physical our bodies truly are. Chastity, although just as physical, is a bit easier. You can survive without sex. But survival without food is a lot shorter. And at least with chastity, there is still masturbation. Whereas there is no way to self gratify when withholding food is involved.
Fasting is supposed to remind us of what we really need. What we are really hungry for. What we crave on a spiritual level. What our souls need to survive.
What we really need is God.
How easy it is to forget that! If you asked me to rattle off a quick list of things I needed in my life, I’m fairly certain my list would not have God at the top of it. Brian would be at the top followed by my cell phone, blank paper and writing instruments and OPI nail polish. I would tell you that coffee is a biological necessity for me. I would probably tell you that I need an oversized purse to cart my things around in. And I would tell you that I need to wear flip flops or no shoes at all. In our consumer driven culture, needing God is easy to forget because it doesn’t cost money to receive God’s love.
So I fast on Fridays as a reminder. Giving up meat or another luxury for the Lenten season isn’t quite as effective. I am reminded by the loud, angry grumbling my stomach makes. I am reminded by the ache in my belly. I am reminded that God will provide for me and this too, shall pass. I am reminded that despite my weakness, I am strong in God’s love.
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