In
a culture that specializes in over-consumption of every kind, the idea of
fasting from anything may carry with it distasteful feelings. Our senses are
bombarded every day with messages that tell us we don’t have enough, that we
need more (especially the “more” that the advertisers are trying to sell us).
Our culture is caught up in consumerism, materialism, hedonism and narcissism,
and all the other kinds of “isms” that carry with them having and needing more.
But it’s exactly because of this kind of incessant exposure
that fasting takes on spiritual significance. Fasting is the practice of
intentionally abstaining from something for a specific period of time and for a
specific purpose. There are many different kinds of fasts people have found
helpful: food fasts, entertainment fasts (such as fasts from TV and movies or even
reading novels), sugar fasts, sexual activity fasts, and the list is endless.
The purpose is to give your mind and body a break from something that you
typically feel a need for in order to engage in a more intense opportunity for
spiritual activities, for spiritual focus.
One of the positive side benefits is the recognition that we
are not slaves to our lives. We can not only get along without some things but
we can also flourish and grow deeper in some areas of our lives as a result.
Fasting helps to restore the belief that we, not our appetites, are in control
of our lives. Fasting helps to reinforce the truth that we believe God is the
most significant life focus (so we abstain from certain activities to spend
time in more specific connection with God). Fasting has been used by almost
every major religion as a tool to help purify one’s desires and to increase the
experience of contentment.
No comments:
Post a Comment