Luke 5:33-39

       Think Fast

             33 And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink." 34 And Jesus said to them, "Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days." 36 He told them a parable also: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it upon an old garment; if he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new; for he says, `The old is good.'"

            I'd like to add to the well known Ecclesiastes reading that says "to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens...a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot". I'd like to add to that, there is a time to fast and a time to feast.

          I don't think there are many people who enjoy good food and eating more than me. Our honeymoon in Paris was focused on food, I offer my own critiques on my face book page of restaurants that hit the mark and those that sink miserably. We enjoy good food. Feasting is good. I don't mean gorging - we never go to a buffet. I mean appreciating talent (chefs), gifts (food) and the treasure (that allows us to dine as we like). It really isn't a focal point of our life but we do enjoy eating.

          How does that square with it's 'the time to fast'. Fasting is an ancient tradition and has many admirable goals, it can achieve many things. For one, you learn to appreciate the food you do have, the gifts you have been given. It is cleansing. With the inequities that exist in this world as it does, it allows you some small semblance of unity with people in this world who have no food or little food to eat.  It also helps me to realize that it is not food that sustains me. As much as I like good food, it is God that sustains me.  You will find many biblical references to this idea of being sustained by God and not by food alone. Almost every religion has some form of fasting. Some forms of religious fasting seem farcical while others are intensely serious.

         Since I already have written about the fact that God wants us to feast, party, have a good time, I am going to suggest that we set aside a day or a period of time to fast. I would not want anyone to risk their health but to do so if it's at all  possible. Fast and see how you feel. See how it feels in your gut, your soul. Realize how others may feel that are not fasting as an option. Perhaps you could take the money you would have spent for the day on food (breakfast, Starbucks, lunch, snacks, dinner, dessert, drinks, etc) and donate it to some worthy cause. Perhaps check with the local food pantry and see what they need and buy it.

        Think fast, 'fast' and then think slow, meditate on how it feels.