It's Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, a day of fast.
Why is it that I can go every other day not eating between meals, sometimes even forgetting to eat meals (like working through lunch), but on Ash Wednesday, when I'm told to fast, all I can think about is food?
Fasting, they say, is good for the soul. The prophets fasted. Saints through the centuries fasted. Even Jesus fasted. Fasting helps us to remember that we must be dependent on God. All that we have is a result of God's love and goodness. God blesses us with talents and abilities that allow us to work so that we can make money to buy food, clothing, and shelter for our families.
No one ever said that fasting was easy. It takes conscious effort not to eat those things that we want so badly. We make this conscious effort so that we may live in solidarity with all those who fast every day because of lack of food. We make this conscious effort to be united in Spirit with all those who have fasted before us and all those who are fasting around the world today.
I need to keep reminding myself of all of this as my stomach growls, my mouth waters at the thought of food, and I am tempted to just nibble on this one cookie.
May our fasting be a prayer for all those who do not have food today or any other day. May our fasting draw us closer to the God who loves us and provides for all our needs.
