The weekend of April 27 - 28, 2012 15 youth of my church did a World Vision 30 Hour Famine Project to raise money to help the poor of the world. A large part of this was to fast for 30 hours. When I heard about it, I knew I had to join on the fast. Below is a report I wrote for our church weekly newsletter. Since writing it, I thought of at least one more thing that came to me during the experience: in our country we live in a sea of food that is over-grown beyond all reasonable proportions.
I spent much of the weekend with the youth taking video of them and their experiences that is on You Tube at
Youth
Leading Elders
This past weekend our youth led me to a place I’ve never been in
my spiritual journey with God. Almost 70 years old, I considered myself a
Christian most of my adult life. But I have only fasted maybe twice in all
those years - and then for just one meal.
When I heard that the youth were going to fast for 30 hours, I felt compelled to try it, too. So here I am, an “old timer” Christian, only now seriously observing one of the ancient practices of my religion. I didn’t know how I would do and if I could go that long without food. I thought I might get a bad headache or get too weak to continue. Neither of these happened, perhaps because I prayed much more than usual. I spent much of the time with the youth taking video. That was easy and fun. The toughest time for me was going through the kitchen at home, with all the food staring at me.
What I learned while fasting:
(1) How it feels for almost a billion people on the planet who go hungry every day. It is not pleasant!
(2) As one appreciates feeling healthy after being sick, so now I am more thankful to God for a simple meal.
(3) How blessed we are as a people, and how ashamed I feel at how much we consume our blessings just on ourselves.
(4) That I must do more to help the needy; and that this is the work of Jesus in the world.
A few others participated in the fast with our youth. Next year, when they do it again, I hope even more of us “old timers” will try it.
When I heard that the youth were going to fast for 30 hours, I felt compelled to try it, too. So here I am, an “old timer” Christian, only now seriously observing one of the ancient practices of my religion. I didn’t know how I would do and if I could go that long without food. I thought I might get a bad headache or get too weak to continue. Neither of these happened, perhaps because I prayed much more than usual. I spent much of the time with the youth taking video. That was easy and fun. The toughest time for me was going through the kitchen at home, with all the food staring at me.
What I learned while fasting:
(1) How it feels for almost a billion people on the planet who go hungry every day. It is not pleasant!
(2) As one appreciates feeling healthy after being sick, so now I am more thankful to God for a simple meal.
(3) How blessed we are as a people, and how ashamed I feel at how much we consume our blessings just on ourselves.
(4) That I must do more to help the needy; and that this is the work of Jesus in the world.
A few others participated in the fast with our youth. Next year, when they do it again, I hope even more of us “old timers” will try it.
