Daily Archives: January 28, 2011

As part of my Spiritual Formation Class, my assignment for this week is fasting, and then writing about my experience. I am to “consider fasting or “abstinence” not only from food but also from an affluent and addictive lifestyle.” I have never tried fasting, so this will be a first.

There are three forms of fasting. The first type is “normal fast.” This means that if food is involved then the person would just abstain from food and liquid, except water. The second type is “partial fast,” which means that fasting is done in moderation. The third type is “absolute fast,” or complete abstinence. This third type is reserved for those true bravery souls. Or, maybe, those crazy ones.

I’ve decided that I would do the third type for this weekend. Not because I’m a braved soul or crazy one (well, that’s up for discussion), but because I feel that this is the right approach for me in order to recognize any signs of effectiveness. The fasting assignment is supposed to be for one week long, so I can always switch to one of the other two next week. We shall see.

Now, since I work 36 hours on the weekend and get by on minimum sleep, I think I really need to nourish my body. It’s not like I eat healthy anyway. So, my fasting will be “abstinence” from facebook.

I have come to realize that I have become too dependent on facebook. Now, facebook in itself is not bad. After all, I use facebook to keep in contact with my families around the globe, old and new friends, colleagues, teachers and/or scholars, etc. I also subscribe to various news sources, which keeps me abreast on local and world events. Facebook in a way is my connection to the world, recreationally, psychologically, academically, and sometimes for humor and sanity. But, I will disclose this, my work involves information, whether it’s related to a particular company, industry, country, region, economy, and so on, I will always be in tune to world news. This means I am always on the internet.

Regardless, this fasting will allow me an opportunity to disconnect temporarily from a certain segment of my affluent and dependent lifestyle, that have seemed to consume my being. The point of fasting or denying oneself of something is to open our souls and truly appreciate and enjoy God’s gifts. In our consumer driven culture, we are often consumed by our everyday habits that we are not conscious of the effects on us. We take every day things for granted, including our friends and family. We take God for granted. And, we certainly take time away from God. So, maybe, we should perhaps pause and reflect. Indeed, “fasting is not primarily a discipline through which I gain greater control over my life, but one through which God gains access to redirect and heal me in body, mind, and spirit.”[1]

Have a good weekend all!

You can call me if it’s important, and leave a message since I don’t answer my phone. 🙂