Fasting

Many people focus on prayer, fasting, and giving to charities, or almsgiving, during Lent. For most, fasting takes the form of "giving up" a particular food or treat, such as meat, alcohol, candy and sweets, etc. For some people, fasting is both a constant reminder that we are preparing for Easter, and also a way to, in some very small way, participate in suffering. But fasting has merit and value that can be profound.

I think fasting, in some form, is a very valuable spiritual practice, during Lent and all year. Some recent studies have shown that fasting one day a month is even good for your health. (Click here for a CNN article on fasting and heart health.) Given our heavy Western diet, taking a day off here and there and letting our bodies rest seems wise. Given the increased energy it takes to produce meat, it seems that abstaining from eating meat once a week (or more) is an easy way to stand in solidarity with the poor and hungry. If you donate the money you save from a weekly or monthly fast (or abstinance from meat) to your local food bank or world hunger organization, you can and will make a significant difference in feeding the hungry. So, fasting is good for you as an individual, good for the world, and acts as a reminder of the suffering of Jesus as well as bringing you in concert with the suffering of others in the world.

So during the next days leading up to Easter, I encourage you to integrate some form of fasting into your daily life. And when you do eat, really think about where your food comes from and feel gratitude for the farmers and other laborers who grow your food and deliver it to you. When you deny yourself something you really want, stop and take a moment to remember that there are people across the world, and right in your community, who are consistently and chronically hungry, and consider a donation of food or money to the food bank.

I have found that fasting can be healing, challenging, and personally transforming. I hope you will explore this wonderful spiritual practice.

If you want to know more about fasting and how to fast safely, please click here for an excellent article from Vanderbilt University on fasting which includes some great links.