Fasting Fridays

I know that we don't have to fast on Fridays, but it has been one of the best spiritual endeavors I have done. I have known many people who fast, and I wasn't drawn to it...in*the*slightest. I love food and overlooked the merit of doing it when it wasn't required by the church. However, as with almsgiving, when done as a spiritual exercise, it is wonderful what can happen! I have been amazed.

Don't get me wrong, some would scoff at my "fasting." See it started as part of a contribution to a spiritual bouquet for my bishop at the urging of Joe @ Defend Us in Battle. Then it just clicked. Why not fast for my own spiritual intention? Offer something to our Lord (in this case it is not eating for a period of time), but not as a bartering tool and instead as truly an offering to Him. My first intention didn't have to do with me but more my children and their spiritual pursuits. The details don't really matter but suffice it to say that it was a Friday-thing for the past 11 months for a particular intention. More recently, I have been fortunate to change my intention (usually for someone other than myself…unless I am having a really bad day then I offer it for a virtue/skill I am lacking). I can’t say how much my resolved intention was due to the Lord acknowledging my offering and how much was due to other factors. But what I can say is that my intention came to fruition in an almost too-good-to-be-true way; we had some issues but nothing we couldn’t overcome.

Ok, don’t laugh here but my fast started as “eating nothing but one pop until dinnertime in which I could eat the family meal with everyone else.” It was hard to remember at first. I would be on automatic pilot at times, and start eating breakfast with the kids or finishing leftovers or sampling as I cooked for them. Luckily, the kids reminded me on Friday mornings until I got into the swing of things. I don't claim to make a perfect fast every Friday. And Lent? Lent was a piece of cake because I did the normal requirement which is easier than my non-Lenten fast. Now, if I mess up and absent-mindedly pop something in my mouth, my kids remind me that I am "still doing better than the Church's fasting."

Temporal benefits

My earthly benefits have been tremendous. First, I am so efficient in getting my chores done. I am not focused on what I can eat next or nibble on to “get me going.” I have learned to keep all food put away so I don’t absent-mindedly pop something in my mouth. Recently I noticed the correlation between not eating breakfast/lunch and an increase in chores accomplished. I really think if I put it to a scientific study I would be able to demonstrate a strong correlation. Second, I have become more aware of my poor eating patterns. I eat what I see...what’s left on the counter, on the kids' plates, etc. I use food as a crutch... to get me started on food prep for the next meal, to reward me for doing some chore, etc. Food should not equal reward and I am not a human garbage disposal.

Spiritual benefits

I know my family has received a blessing from having me fast. Namely, an intention finally answered. Secondly, they have greater awareness of this kind of devotion. I can’t say that I feel lightning bolts or anything outwardly noticeable, but I am noticing more awareness of my sinfulness. Hey, that is a blessing! Unless I can see my own sin, I cannot change it. (It would be nice to only see it one sin at a time so I can happily fix one before noticing another; alas it doesn’t work that way.) I would like to think that my intentions for others have been responded to but I leave that up to God. I don’t pretend to know His ways.

Improvements?

Yes, I know I have room for improvement in my practice of fasting. All of you that scoffed at my soda…for the calories….for the lack of being able to give up my one vice…for whatever reason you might have. Yes, I do need to try a water (with lemon?) fast. That would be a trial of its own sort. Anyway, I am aware that I could do better.

What suggestions do you have? What spiritual exercises have you found beneficial? What are your thoughts about fasting or anything else for that matter?