Slow Food and Fast(ing)

IV.    Vows of Voluntary Sacrifice

“We freely offer up our appetites, wealth, and pride to relieve the suffering of the world, for the sake of our neighbors and God’s joy.”

18. I will discipline my appetite for food through conscientious diet and periodic fasting, especially from meat and foods that impose exceptional burdens on God’s creation or my neighbors, and by refraining from intoxicants.

("Daily Bread" by knitting iris via Flickr)

Some may wonder what eating habits have to do with living in line with God’s shalom, but movements and cookbooks like More With Less (and now Simply in Season), alongside growing societal awareness of local, fresh, in-season, heirloom, organic, fair trade, hormone free, grass-fed, free-range, whole grain and so on, have drawn much clearer ethical lines between the things we grow, water, weed or purchase, transport, slice, cook, and ultimately put in our mouths. Much more apparent now are the interconnections of our overburdened ecosystems, links between our global, regional and local markets, and the dynamic correlation between the quality and content of our food and our daily health.

But there is more to today’s vow than simply re-connecting with our local farmers and eating fresh, tasty food or just refraining from excessive caffeine, sugars or fats for physical health sake alone. One significant, life-giving piece not prominent in the healthy and sustainable foods movements is attention to periodic fasts.  Sure, New Year’s resolutions and health magazines tout particular diets and portion control, but longstanding religious traditions—including Christian—have a distinctive contribution to make to our spiritual, physical, mental and relational health through the practice of fasting. It has been suggested that in an affluent society, fasting is a far larger sacrifice than giving a little of our money, in a consumptive culture of "more" it teaches us "enough."

Solidarity with others in their suffering is another key angle afforded by fasting. In our hunger pangs, we may join them in their difficult experience. The self-restraint of fasting also prepares us to pay attention to God over our own desires. Our Hindu brother Gandhi suggests, it “is essential in order to make our ears fit to hear the voice of God.”

Following Christ’s cross-bearing way can be painful work at times, and will require preparation to remain faithful. Fasting is one such discipline that strengthens our patience, focus and attentiveness to God, gratitude, self-discipline, satiety, compassion for the suffering other and our reliance on God’s daily sustenance—all qualities needed for serious long-term discipleship. So today we vow together:  “I will discipline my appetite for food through conscientious diet and periodic fasting, especially from meat and foods that impose exceptional burdens on God’s creation or my neighbors, and by refraining from intoxicants.”

For Reflection and Action

("Grace" by Eric Enstrom via Wikimedia Commons)

(1) Ruminate on one line of the Lord’s Prayer today: “Give us today, our bread for today” as you take stock of the foods and drinks you have had in the last 24 to 48 hours .

• Pick two or three items and trace out as many ways as you can imagine that they link you with other humans, other living things, economic systems or diverse geographic areas. What surprises you?
• How many of the foods on your list contained meat, dairy, seafood? Sugar, caffeine, alcohol? Imports or “luxuries”? With which things do you consider your amounts to be healthy?  With which might God call you to greater moderation or even fasting?

(2) Pick a meal or a day in the coming week to fast (if you’ve not done so before, ease in).

• Learn the story of someone who suffers and reflect on their story as you fast in solidarity with them.
• Keep a notepad handy and, in being more attentive outside yourself, jot down where you notice God in your day.
• Pay attention to the desires “at war” within you, give thanks to God for your successful resolve along the way and at the end.

Prayer Focus (Repeat)

Our Father in Heaven,

Give us this day our daily bread.