Your experience may be similar. Fasting heightens my senses. One year I gave up fried foods for Lent. By Easter I couldn't even walk into a fast-food outlet. The grease smell would overwhelm me. On the other hand if a neighbor fried bacon I could smell it two houses away.
During my youth ministry days we did a hunger retreat where we raised money for famine relief in Ethiopia. We spent a weekend together learning what the Bible says about caring for the poor and NOT eating. Being locked up with 35 teenager for 36 hours without food sounded like a better idea when I put it on the calendar. Tempers flared, youth ministers cried, and all the teenagers met for french fries immediately afterward.
But decades later, they almost always bring up that weekend when I see them again.
Jesus fasted as preparation for ministry. He chose God's word over bread. We too can learn to turn tummy grumbles into prayers. Our body's experience of temporary deprivation can remind us that Jesus' physical absence doesn't mean literal absence. In fact, in fasting we grow to understand what it means for him to live inside us.
Tell us about your hopes & goals for 40 Days 'Till Easter.
There are 4 steps to posting a comment:
1. Click on the "Post a Comment" or "# Comments (click to add yours)" link below.
2. A new tab will open, type your comment in the blank white text box.
3. Type the squiggly letters into the word verification box.
4. Choose an identity (click on a circle). I would suggest using the "Name" option.
