Ash Wednesday is upon us and it's a good time to give some thought to the spiritual discipline of fasting.
Somehow over the years - although never promoted by any church I have been a part of - I picked up the practice of "giving up something for Lent".
It can be a worthwhile discipline. Fasting is not just for Catholics. Or Muslims.
Huston Smith in The World's Religions writes about the benefits that Muslims find in their sun-up to sun-down fasting during the month of Ramadan. What he says applies to fasting in general and, even if to a lesser degree, to "giving up something" for Lent.
Smith's four good reasons for fasting are as follows:
"For one thing, fasting makes one think, as every Jew who has observed the fast of Yom Kippur will attest.
"For another thing, fasting teaches self-discipline; one who can endure its demands will have less difficulty controlling the demands of appetites at other times.
"Fasting underscores the creature's dependence on God. Human beings, it is said, are as frail as rose petals; nevertheless, they assume airs and pretensions. Fasting calls one back to one's frailty and dependence.
"Finally, fasting sensitizes compassion. Only those who have been hungry can know what hunger means. People who have fasted for twenty-nine days within the year will be apt to listen more carefully when next approached by someone who is hungry." (p.247)
Those are four great reasons to fast.
Even if you haven't done so already, it's not too late to make a commitment - what are you giving up for Lent?
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