You’ve heard of the phrase, “a joy shared, is a double joy.” I also like to think that a journey shared is a richer journey. For my 50th birthday, I decided to travel. I took a road trip to the eastern sierras – magical. It was great, and it was even better because I shared it with my friend Teresa!
We have now fully entered into the Season of Lent. We are on a journey that will lead us to grow in our relationship with God – to having deeper spiritual enlightenment!
This issue, we look at the practice of fasting and frugality. Listen to these two stories that speak to fasting and frugality – the names have been changed to protect their identities – but they could be any one of us:
“Lisa had almost done it! It was about 11:51 p.m. and she had gone the whole day without eating. It was her first attempt at fasting, but at the moment all that was on her mind was: ‘Should I wait until after midnight to order the pizza or can I order it now – since it wouldn’t be ready until after midnight anyway?’”
To this day, Lisa doesn’t remember what she decided to do, but she does remember that the pizza was delicious!
“Eric had just come back from hearing the talk of the horrible devastation and poverty from the earthquake in Haiti. The pictures of the children with torn, worn and re-worn clothes had made an impact on him. In fact, it made such an impact that when he got home and opened his closet and saw the piles and piles of clothes, many of which he hardly ever wore, he decided to give his excess away to charity.”
On the way home, feeling good, Eric passed his favorite clothing store and saw that magic sign” “Sale!” He walked out of that store with two pairs of new jeans, three shirts, six pairs of socks (they were 3 for $8!) and a new pair of shoes.
I never said these practices would be easy. In fact, don’t you agree that it’s when we work hard and sacrifice that the reward seems to be greater? Fasting and frugality are two practices that our culture doesn’t make easy for us.
Let’s start with the question: What is fasting for?
This practice of fasting in this context is mainly for the purpose of focusing on God. As you know, when you’re hungry, the pangs of hunger hit. During this intentional practice, those hunger pangs serve as reminders to focus our hearts on God (not just our stomachs on food).
Fasting also results in an increasing spiritual sensitivity. We are more “tuned in to the Spirit’s leading,” more aware of our own inner condition, more aware of the needs of others.
Through the practice of fasting, God can break the cycle of focusing only on ourselves. Carter Heyward, a feminist theologian and a priest in the Anglican Church, said, “Sin is that which separates us from the other. It is radical self-absorption. Me, me, me!”
Fasting isn’t commanded. Jesus said, “When you fast …” Fasting is not a commandment. It’s a practice. Like any practice, there is the danger to turn it into law (like Lisa’s story about the pizza).
Fasting is not for impressing others! (Look at me, I’m spiritually superior!) Jesus said, “When you fast, don’t make a big show of it.” Fasting doesn’t make you superior to others – not a spiritual giant.
Fasting, also, is not magic. Some people think that fasting can be used to influence God to act for what we want. We cannot manipulate God. Fasting is not about manipulating God, but to help us “see more clearly” what God is doing. Fasting focuses us on God’s heart.
Enough about fasting! Let’s talk about the other “F” word. Frugality. Frugality is easily misunderstood. It is not stinginess. It’s not about penny-pinching. It’s not about buying only on-sale items. It’s not about wearing your clothes until they disintegrate or having to be a coupon queen.
The practice of frugality is about removing our desire for status, and our desire for glamour. It’s being concerned about our attitudes toward money or possessions or food. It’s a heart issue.
Frugality goes completely against the grain of our culture. Look around. We’re constantly bombarded with comfort and indulgence, pampering and pleasure, luxury and leisure.
Practicing frugality means we reject the idea that we need such things to fulfill our lives. We practice frugality so that our resources (time, energy, thoughts) are devoted to seeking and serving God, instead of impressing others and solely gratifying ourselves.
It’s also about being cognizant of our planet. Not wasting our precious natural resources and leaving a smaller carbon footprint. We practice frugality because we live in a culture of waste.
All of this talk of fasting and frugality is not to make you feel guilty, but to feel responsible – and then do something about it.
So how can we apply fasting and frugality in our lives to attain spiritual enlightenment? First, fasting:
Keep your focus. As you begin the practice of fasting, keep reminding yourself the purpose of fasting – listening to God. Your body will argue – (grumbling, weakness, headache) allow those things to remind you to be still before God.
Start out small.
A good resource is Richard Foster’s book, Celebration of Discipline.
Now Frugality: Remember, as with every spiritual practice, there are no rules to follow. Some suggestions.
Take an inventory. Go through your things and notice how much you have. How blessed you are. Be grateful.
Ask yourself: Do I really need this?
Look at your schedule: how much of my thoughts and energy are spent on indifferent things … things that really don’t matter.
Another good resource is Richard Foster’s book, Freedom of Simplicity.
Fasting and frugality are about denying yourself, and focusing on something bigger. Moving away from the tangible to the intangible. It’s about excess and waste (waist).
Not about external, but about the internal, focusing on the things that will last. Rev. Dan Koeshall is the Senior Pastor at The Metropolitan Community Church (The Met) in San Diego, California, themetchurch.org
