So tomorrow at lunch, I start a 30-hour fast, along with several of our youth. I’ve done a bit of reading recently on the theology and logicality of fasting, and I figured I’d sum it up, at least from my perspective.
Theologically speaking, the simple way to put it is that fasting is a way to prove to yourself that you are sustained by God alone. The most common type of fasting I’ve come across, at least in our country, is “giving something up for Lent.” This year, I gave up Coke for Lent. It may seem kind of silly, but you really don’t understand how much I love Coke; so much that I felt as though I needed it to live. I’m quickly approaching this same relationship with Starbucks, but I digress.
Some people give up other things, like swearing, drinking, procrastinating, sarcasm, and many others. The point, at least biblically, is that you are making a personal decision to do without something that almost defines a portion of your character, in order to recognize that you are fully sustained by God.
Even if you’re not a Christian, or the “God-type,” there are still very good reasons to fast. The foremost of these is the simple fact that millions of people do it every day, and not by choice. You don’t have to go to third-world countries to find these folks. You can see them in your hometown every day. These are people who are the downtrodden, the “passed-by,” the seemingly forgotten. Without writing a book here, fasting is a way to put yourself in the shoes of the person whose life took a bad turn, and now they’re walking by McDonalds wishing they could eat a hamburger. It’s a way to put all that we have in perspective without ever having to leave home.
That being said, I’m not looking forward to going without food for 30 hours. It was really difficult last year, and I fully anticipate it being even tougher this year, as I’ve gotten… let’s say, “hungrier” (meaning “fatter”) since then.
As I’m typing this, I just realized that tonight’s supper was my last until Saturday – and I only ate a taco. Hmmm – better go eat some more.