Fasting for three days was an interesting experience. I stopped eating on a Friday after lunch and started back at lunch time on a Monday.
During that time I had some hunger but it wasn't outrageous. And I never got really uncomfortable or anything. I drank water, one cup of coffee per day in the mornings, and then one cup of tea in the afternoons.
My left shoulder didn't start hurting the way it normally does when I don't eat. I found that very interesting. Because usually when I don't eat a meal or something my upper left shoulder will start hurting and remind me that it's time to eat. Weird, I know, but that's me!
A couple of things that I learned during my three day fast:
- Not eating frees up a lot of time. I would go into the kitchen to get more water or throw something away and I would think about the meal preparation time, the time spent setting the table, the time sitting at the table and eating, and everything that goes with it. And so I freed up a lot of time. By the same token, though, I would not have had that time with family and friends if they had been around. Which may be glad I was alone when I did this.
- I was able to focus on things. Instead of being torn and driven to the next meal what are we going to do for the next meal and arguing about it and all the decisions that surrounded I was free from those decisions. I was able to concentrate on my the project I had taken on, cleaning out my closet. And I got a lot done.
- I was reminded of good times. I didn't pine for food or anything, but I did have memories of the fun of preparing meals and the fun of being with family and friends. And I remembered the kids when they were growing up and the times when we would joke and do fun things. It was a good experience.
- I got closer to God. My main focus or goal with this fast was to grow closer to God, and I feel like worked. The big lesson that I got was to obey is better than sacrifice. God loves it when we obey him! I felt like he was calling me to do this fast, and I did it. And I got to think and pray a little bit more than normal and get a lot more focused on what he had for me. It was interesting!
Fasting isn't for everybody, and I don't encourage it to do it just for the heck of it. But it helped me.
