My friend Kasima at Bubblews wrote a post that hit me right in the heart. She is fasting every other day to save money. I think there's a deeper spiritual level to fasting that she has latched onto. Consider this--3/4 of the world's kids go to bed hungry. Many eat only every other day. While we in the developed world consume too much. We shop, buy, spend, eat and drink too much. We spend too much time on the internet. We gamble and ingest dangerous things. We lavish money on our own personal entertainment while others struggle to have beans and a little rice.We are hurting ourselves. We are developing lifestyle diseases because of it: obesity, hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, alcoholism, addictions. And those are just the physical issues--the emotional, social repercussions are many. We go deep in debt feeding our greed. Our relationships crumble. We're miserable. And we are hurting others by selfishly hoarding and not sharing. There is no reason why everyone can't have enough, all 7 billion even, if we would all just lighten our load.
Christians, Catholics, protestants--we all do this, even though Our Lord and Our Lady tell us not to. This is not gospel teaching. Jesus spoke exhorted us to social justice, not capitalistic greed. Solidarity with the poor, ha! More like envying and sucking up to the rich.
I'm not going on a political tirade, but it's time we wake up and learn a lesson from people like Kasima, who are living simply so themselves and others can simply live. Fasting isn't just for lent. Or advent or Fridays. It's about living minimal every day. I fasted twice a week when I heard Our Lady of Medjugorie's call. I lost 35 pounds and I wasn't even thinking about weight loss.
Now I am dieting to lose weight and have cut down portions. I show you these two pictures of me, before and now, not to brag, but to demonstrate that I am happier eating less and living light. I eat simpler food that aren't rich or expensive. I'm healthier but I feel better emotionally and spiritually. I've lost some of the weight of attachment to possessions. I can focus on higher-minded things without the craving and coveting getting in the way. It's a battle. I don't have it licked, but God is helping. He sends me kindred spirits like Kasima. I'm fasting to save money - News - Bubblews
Click either link to read her story
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