Categories: uncategorized
Date: 07 February 2008 14:33:48
I don't do food fasts. There are many reasons for this.
1. I just plain like food too much. Alright, I've admitted it.
2. It doesn't help my spiritual state if I'm irritable and snapping at everyone due to low blood sugar
3. I think there are actually more beneficial things to fast from.
I really do believe that last statement. What is the purpose of a fast? For me, it's about stripping away the things that can distract us from God. I believe that God has given us a great many wonderful gifts to enjoy, but it's very easy to concentrate on them and not him. The purpose of a fast is get our focus back on God, and also to exercise our flabby spiritual muscles. If we never test ourselves spiritually, then giving in to temptations is easier, and we're more likely to make comfortable choices rather than the right choices.
None of this is very fashionable stuff, is it?
But back to the food issue, it seems to me that in olden times food was potentially the main distraction, luxury and comfort. Nowadays we have tv, the internet, radio, CDs, MP3s, books, newspapers, playstations, luxuries like wine and chocolate etc etc. Distraction comes easily from a variety of sources. And silencing some of those - particularly the ones you depend on most - is more likely to enable you to focus on God than having an empty (or meat-free) stomach growling at you.