Fasting--the Serious Side

In my last post, I made light of the 3-day fast I participated in. I focused on the misery of being denied a cup of tea. If that is truly the message I got, then it is evident I failed in learning anything, nor was I drawn closer to God.

Today, I'd like to take a moment to recognize a few points that fasting brought into view. One of the things I learned personally, is that I still spend a lot of time focused inwardly, on what I want, rather than on what I need. The weather was dismal. That much is true. It certainly influenced my mood. I had a headache for 2 days. That didn't help things, either. My husband is traveling right now. Combine those 3 things and you have the makings for self-pity. But the reality is that all of those things combined are still pretty superficial!

Hunger is a reality for many people, both in America and in Third World Countries. For them, my complaints wouldn't have registered on their radar screens even as a blip, let alone as something to avoid.

I volunteer at a local food pantry. Food is distributed once a month with the goal of providing an additional 15 meals (5 days) worth of food to families. "Beggars can't be choosers" may be a common expression, but it is a callous one. Humans, no matter the circumstances, still have preferences. Even in their needs, they have 'wants'. They, like me, want variety in their diet. Poverty does not change that. One woman who comes to our pantry complained one time that we always give her applesauce. "I have cans of applesauce! Why can't I have fruit cocktail?" she moaned. The reality is that food is distributed using the age old method of supply vs. demand. I had to explain to her that the fruit cocktail (which was limited in quantity) was for the large families who would receive one applesauce and one fruit cocktail. I tried to gently remind her that our food was just to extend her budget. Perhaps she could buy the fruit cocktail. I also tried to give her a new use for the applesauce. I told her that she could replace the applesauce for the oil called for in the muffin mix using up the applesauce and making it a healthier version. But the point is, no matter what our circumstance, we still desire variety and choice.

Take this thought one step further. If you were a refugee in an African camp and you received your daily ration of gruel don't you think at one point you would wish for just a minute you could have the meal you used to fix at home? I'm sure every refugee thinks that sometime, if not every day! The one thing I didn't struggle with, during my fast, was variety! I had lots of recipes to choose from, some that I prepare on a regular basis! I may have denied myself some foods, but I didn't suffer hunger pangs. And that's ok, because the Daniel Fast isn't about hunger, but about a healthy diet and allowing time to reflect on God's goodness and direction in my life.

I can't say fasting is a spiritual event for me. There are many other ways in which I draw closer to God. As I said, fasting just seems to turn me inward. But one thing I do think about, is how difficult it must be for so many of the world's people, whether they live in my town, or across the world in a dusty village. Even the deer in my neighborhood start to go after my holly and my neighbor's arborvitae mid-way through winter. After awhile, bark just doesn't cut it any more. (FYI--deer don't even like holly or arborvitae, according to the nursery tag on the bush).

Beggars can't be choosers. Maybe that's true. But it doesn't mean they don't have desires, longings, cravings.... simple wants. Beggars are humans after all, and we all have those. So perhaps, what my little fast did, was just to help me empathize more with those at the food pantry, and remind me once again, how truly blessed I really am.

My Cup of Tea

This has been a dreary week. The sky has been gray. It started out with snow on the ground, but then the rains came and now the ground is soggy. I haven't seen the sun in days. To cap it off, I haven't had a cup of REAL tea in 3 days!  Until this morning!


"Why?" you ask. Our church participates in a spiritual fast for several weeks in January. This is the first year I've tried it. Instead of doing it for the whole time, I settled on a 3-day fast. The kind of fast they do is called the Daniel Fast after the prophet Daniel. (The basis for it is told in Daniel 1) It is basically a strict vegan diet with some added restrictions, such as no processed foods, no sugar (honey is ok), no caffeine, herbal tea is ok. Except I really don't like herbal tea. I'm fine with de-caf tea, but I want my black, orange pekoe mix; the kind Tetley or Lipton specialize in. I'll have a couple of cups in the morning. And in the afternoon I treat myself to a good cup of Ty*phoo; a good British blend with all the caffeine I need for the day. When I'm on the road, there is always a large ice-tea in the cupholder.

I picked a really good time to deprive myself. Rain is such a mood killer and then add dietary restricions to it.... Well, it's not pretty! But the food wasn't the problem. There are plenty of good vegetarian recipes. What I really missed was my tea. As I write this I am sipping my first cup of the morning and its soo good.

I have never been one to fast. Let's put it this way. I have never been one to deprive myself of food. I'll control it, moderate it, but rarely forbid it. To do a real fast--the water-for-a-day type--is out of the question. In fact, when I read stories where people go for hours or days without food it really bothers me. The author might not mention food, but I'll be thinking about it! How did they cope?

Well, I didn't go without food. I was well nourished with healthy, good tasting food. But I did miss my tea. Right now, my kids are glad they weren't here to witness it. There are family stories about Mom without her tea. The 3 days are over. I'm going to go have my second cup. This afternoon I'll have my Ty*phoo. And I'm pretty sure I'll be swinging through McDonald's for a "large, unsweetened ice tea, please" when I run errands later today.

I did figure out one thing through this experience. I know one thing I won't be giving up for Lent! TEA!