Today I experienced one of the most sublime tenants of my religion. I fasted for two meals, abstaining from food and drink. Combined with prayer and donating money to care for the poor, this practice has become an incredible opportunity to refocus spiritually and commune with the divine. Many of my friends who do not share my beliefs are either unaware of this practice, or don't know much about it. So, here's what a typical fast looks like for me, including what I do personally, what I do in fellowship with other believers, and how this practice affects my life.
I typically begin fasting after I eat lunch on Saturday. This allows me to fast for about 24 hours (or two full meals) and eat a nice lunch to end the fast after I get home from church services on Sunday. Church members are encouraged to donate generously to a fund designated to care for the poor in their local areas. This donation is called a Fast Offering. The amount I personally donate depends on my financial situation that month and, I'll be honest, on how generous I may or may not be feeling. But I always donate with pleasure, and strive to donate at least the value of the two meals I have skipped.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has designated the first Sunday of each month as Fast Sunday, a day when all members are encouraged to join in fasting. This is the pattern, though individuals may fast whenever they like. Church services run a little differently on Fast Sunday. Rather than prepared sermons, the program consists of open mic time. Members may stand up and share their own personal thoughts, feelings, and testimonies of truth before the congregation. This is done completely voluntarily. I've attended Fast Sunday services full of long, long silences, and others where a line forms at the pulpit and not everyone who wishes to has time to share.
I'll insert a fun cultural note here. As you can imagine, opening up the microphone like this results in some interesting, sometimes entertaining, other times embarrassing, and every once in a while downright horrifying public speaking fiascos. Every once in a while someone will get up and talk in such a way that will cause you to pray that there are no visitors attending that day for fear that they run away and never come back... It's pretty epic sometimes.
On the whole, however, I find that these meetings are often filled with a spirit of love, compassion, truth, and caring. It is an opportunity to grow closer as a congregation and rejoice in our shared beliefs. I arose today to share my testimony, and quite enjoyed sharing my convictions with my fellow saints.
My parents taught me to fast as they raised me, and obviously I hated it as a child. I was hungry! They never compelled me to fast, so I didn't always. And when I did it was a mere formality that I didn't associate with anything really positive. It wasn't until I was 19 that I experienced the power of the fast for the first time, and I will never, ever forget it.
Fasting regularly helps me develop self-mastery. I believe that my body is a vital part of my existence. But I also believe that I have a spirit that animates my body and constitutes an important part of myself. My spirit yearns for spiritual things, just as my body yearns for food and other physical appetites. When I fast, I am allowing my spirit more control over my body. I develop temperance, meekness, and humility. I feel closer to my Heavenly Father. I pray more deliberately and with more earnestness and heart. Fasting each month, along with prayer and offerings, has become a defining part of my spirituality, and an essential practice for communing with the divine. I fast to feel closer to God and to be more receptive to his guidance.