Have you ever intentionally gone without something that you liked? A certain food? A favorite car? A gorgeous house? The list could go on right down to the simple: your best pair of pants, your cell phone, your pillow. Going without is sometimes easy, but usually it is just plain hard.
Going without food and/or water is called a Fast. Jesus fasted for 40 days. Going without chocolate is called a Chocolate Fast. My niece fasted this way for 1 year. Going without other things for a specific period of time, are those times called Fasts also?
The church leaders in our congregation last Sunday asked us to go on a Media Fast for one week: No Electronic Media. The purpose is to take away all the noise of the outside world, I think. Without that noise and confusion of "worldly things" we might be able to feel the Lord's spirit better ~ or at least to hear Him better. The concept sounds good, but what does it specifically mean? We were told that each family could decide on their own. Our family talked about it and chose to go without TV, DVD's, movies and shows on-line and radios. Ugh! I work as a writer, so I can us the computer ... just for that. No more late night TV show to help me relax. Bummer. But I do know how to go without. I can Fast.
I think I am on a Brand New Gorgeous Blue Toyota Camry Fast too. I have been on one for the past six years. Because of that Fast I have learned to appreciate the Very Sweet White 2004 Kia Optima named Claire that I have. Learning that wants and needs are different has been good for me.
Fasting brings blessings with it we are told in the scriptures. I see, too, how fasting brings with it opportunities for lessons that we didn't know we needed.
Can you go without something for an hour, a day, a week, a year? Fasting with a purpose builds character. Fasting without a purpose is Starving or Deprivation. I believe that the character that comes from doing things with a purpose is something we can all benefit from.
Media Fast, Bring It On! My character muscles need some stretching...
"No Pain, No Gain." (smiles)
"No Pain, No Gain." (smiles)
Hmmm - on the same fast with you - hope no one tattles on me that I read your post!! (I am also "allowed" on the computer for my writing ~ guess I can chalk up checking your blog as doing "research"). Great post, as always. I should be alseep but even with a much quieter house this week, my brain won't shut up and now, I'm awake. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's ok. I am already a Fast Breaker. I was frustrated last night so I watched a TV show I like late at night to chill out. Now I feel hypocritical. That's my world!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I went on FaceBook ~ my downfall. No more for me. I can't just "look" there. I linger and play. I am just going to write my blogs and other articles without posting them on FaceBook. My goal is to write, write, write. I don't need to interact with people to do that. (I am lecturing myself here only. ~ smiles. Let's see if it works. I heard that one's subconscious mind cannot be bullied by one's conscious mind. Was I just bullying me? ~ smiles.)
ReplyDelete