Fasting as a spiritual practice
by Barry
Our Muslim friends celebrated the holy month of Ramadan with 30 days of fasting. For Muslims, fasting includes refraining from food or drink during daylight hours.
I have fasted along with the Ramadan calendar on a few occasions. I see several spiritual benefits to fasting. Not the least of which, fasting cultivates a move towards some kinship with those for whom going without is not a choice. Hundreds of millions of people around the world do not have enough to eat and suffer from hunger pains and exhaustion due to malnutrition. As often as most of us might complain about being hungry or starving, we are blessed to have not experienced true hunger or starvation. Fasting can help us share the experience of hunger with our brothers and sisters who experience hunger as a daily part of their lives - to walk in their shoes for just a little while.
Another benefit to fasting is the opportunity to appreciate and examine how much of what we do is not done with thoughtfulness and intentionality but through habit. While fasting, we must be mindful and vigilant to honor our fast. The morning trip through the drive-thru, a mid-afternoon stop at the snack machine and the mindless grazing that adds no value to our lives are interrupted. Taking note of how often a change in routine is required in order to honor the fast, gives us insight into how much of an impact our habits have on our lives.
Acknowledging our eating habits can then lead to an examination of our other habits and reactions. Alert to our thoughtless actions, we can make note of other areas in our life when we do not act intentionally. Clicking on the television for a few hours of channel surfing or hopping on the computer for an evening of web browsing can quickly install themselves as part of our daily routine. Did we choose to spend our time this way or did we fall into it? Do we enjoy these activities and are we grateful for the time spent or do we later feel rushed to complete other activities, regretting having wasted so much time?
And what of our reactions to others? Hurtful words blurted out when a family member or friend disappoints us and impulsive remarks (or hand gestures) when we feel offended seem to jump out before we have even had a chance to acknowledge our feelings. Impulsive reactions can often leave us with feelings of regret and shame.
Acknowledging an area of our lives that we want to change is often the easy part. Committing to that change for the long journey requires vigilance. Through daily contemplation, meditation or prayer we may find an opportunity to turn off the auto-pilot and live more thoughtful, intentional and happier lives.
I have fasted along with the Ramadan calendar on a few occasions. I see several spiritual benefits to fasting. Not the least of which, fasting cultivates a move towards some kinship with those for whom going without is not a choice. Hundreds of millions of people around the world do not have enough to eat and suffer from hunger pains and exhaustion due to malnutrition. As often as most of us might complain about being hungry or starving, we are blessed to have not experienced true hunger or starvation. Fasting can help us share the experience of hunger with our brothers and sisters who experience hunger as a daily part of their lives - to walk in their shoes for just a little while.
Another benefit to fasting is the opportunity to appreciate and examine how much of what we do is not done with thoughtfulness and intentionality but through habit. While fasting, we must be mindful and vigilant to honor our fast. The morning trip through the drive-thru, a mid-afternoon stop at the snack machine and the mindless grazing that adds no value to our lives are interrupted. Taking note of how often a change in routine is required in order to honor the fast, gives us insight into how much of an impact our habits have on our lives.
Acknowledging our eating habits can then lead to an examination of our other habits and reactions. Alert to our thoughtless actions, we can make note of other areas in our life when we do not act intentionally. Clicking on the television for a few hours of channel surfing or hopping on the computer for an evening of web browsing can quickly install themselves as part of our daily routine. Did we choose to spend our time this way or did we fall into it? Do we enjoy these activities and are we grateful for the time spent or do we later feel rushed to complete other activities, regretting having wasted so much time?
And what of our reactions to others? Hurtful words blurted out when a family member or friend disappoints us and impulsive remarks (or hand gestures) when we feel offended seem to jump out before we have even had a chance to acknowledge our feelings. Impulsive reactions can often leave us with feelings of regret and shame.
Acknowledging an area of our lives that we want to change is often the easy part. Committing to that change for the long journey requires vigilance. Through daily contemplation, meditation or prayer we may find an opportunity to turn off the auto-pilot and live more thoughtful, intentional and happier lives.
Making New Year's Resolutions Based on Love by Shasta Nelson, M.Div
As we consider areas of our lives that we would like to change for the coming year, Rev. Nelson provides some spiritual food for thought.
Add these apps to your phone or tablet for a spiritual boost
The Church of the Larger Fellowship has created a mobile app titled "Quest for Meaning" available for Apple and Android platforms. Quest for Meaning includes sections for reading and sharing joys and concerns, lighting the chalice, downloading podcasts and reading the Daily Compass spiritual messages.
The Unitarian Universalist Association has created a new app entitled Illuminations. It is compatible with Apple and Android platform. Through the app, you can light and extinguish a virtual chalice, read inspirational prayers and review our seven principles. You can mark your favorites and have "Timely Words" sent to you automatically.
Both apps can be found at the iTunes App Store or at Google Play from your mobile devices.
You'll never be more than a few touches away from a spiritual moment.
The Unitarian Universalist Association has created a new app entitled Illuminations. It is compatible with Apple and Android platform. Through the app, you can light and extinguish a virtual chalice, read inspirational prayers and review our seven principles. You can mark your favorites and have "Timely Words" sent to you automatically.
Both apps can be found at the iTunes App Store or at Google Play from your mobile devices.
You'll never be more than a few touches away from a spiritual moment.