Day 23: Fasting for a Cause

Fasting is kind of like driving a car.  I don't really pay attention too much to what kinds of cars are on the road until I or someone I know gets a new one. Remarkably, every other car I see on the streets is the same make and model I am riding in at that very moment!  I am not narcissistic enough to think that I am some trend setter and that everyone out there is following my lead. Rather, at times like these my eyes are opened and my senses are heightened to what is around me, most likely due to, well . . . my narcissism, I suppose, and how I tend to compare everything to my own experience.

This is happening to me this Lent on two fronts.  One thing that has increased is my awareness of Islam in the news and I have attempted to bring those moments up within this blog as they arise.  The other thing I am more keenly aware of in the world "out there" is references to fasting.  I received two emails today about this subject.  The first was from a friend who emailed an opinion piece from the New York Times where Mark Bittman, of all things a food writer for the Times, mentions joining a fast in protest of proposed cuts to the US budget that would have a direct impact on WIC (food aid for women, infants and children), foreign food aid and food stamps . . . all issues of food security that effect people who are already struggling enough in these difficult economic times.  (Bittman's commentary also mentions that his fasting is teaching him lessons in "patience and fortitude" and that he is more acutely aware of the many enjoyable odors of the food that he cannot eat . . . I agree on all accounts!)

The very next email I opened was from Sojourners, a Christian organization dedicated to promoting justice in politics.  The email invited me to join in the same fast mentioned in the Times article.  Since I am already fasting, I dedicated my prayer today to those who suffer from chronic hunger and, therefore, would be victimized by these proposed cuts.  I signed up, by the way, and so should you.  If you are interested in checking out this initiative, here's some more information.

But while visiting Sojourners I was also drawn to a short article by Jim Wallis entitled "The Discipline of Fasting."  Wallis refers to the book Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster and includes a number of short quotes from the book regarding fasting.  I have not read the book, but I found Foster's observations on fasting to be both intriguing and inspiring.  The first thought is, "Our fasting must forever center on God. . . . If our fasting is not unto God we have failed."  That has certainly been a challenge for me this Lent.  I can honestly say that the most memorable days have been when my prayer and attentiveness were focused and sincere.  The days that have been frustrating and interminable have tended to be the days when the focus has been more on me, my stomach and the clock.  Foster has a number of other salient points as well, but this post is already long enough.  Perhaps I will address some of the others in the days to come.

In the meantime, perhaps you may consider a fast for justice?