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Part of the reason why I wanted to do a fast was because it would encourage me to delve even deeper into the mysteries and ideas that are presented through the scriptures (yes I mean to say that I actually voluntarily chose to study the bible lol!!) But like most normal people, I get really confused and muddled up when I read the bible because so much of it is based in the context of history, which I don't understand.

So to help me out a bit, I've been reading "Everything Must Change" by Brian McLaren. It is good stuff, written gold!

Strangely enough, the themes that the book explore can be related directly back to fasting. Bizarre!!

Example: "Jesus' own practice of fasting ("People do not live on bread alone," he says during one fast) speaks of his awareness of the need to discipline consumption." pg 213

The theme of one section in Everything Must Change explores the way in which the capitalist economy seeks to replace religion in our modern, rational society. In other words, it aims to fulfill the same needs that faith meets, such as giving a person a sense of meaning, purpose and happiness. For example, the economy gives meaning to people through telling them that life can be found in the act of buying and owning 'things'. It gives purpose to people by persuading them into an infinite process of buying and discarding, buying and discarding. It claims to bring happiness and contentedness to people by tricking them into thinking that by possessing the latest gadgets they will suddenly become acceptable and attractive.

And yet isn't faith meant to give us meaning, purpose and happiness, identity, peace, motivation? Life?

My favourite quote from this chapter demonstrating how society has come to worship the God of economy...

"MTV and Fox become powerful forms of religious broadcasting, evoking fear and hope, love and hate, obedience and rebellion, forming souls under the guidiance of famous spiritual directors. Malls become cathedrals; amusement parks, shrines of holy prilgrimage; celebrities and stars, saints, preists, idols. TV becomes an alter before which we don't kneel, but rather recline-entranced, enraptured, open-eyed and open-mouthed in speechless wonder, on pews called couches, eating our communion bread of patato chips and ice cream and sipping our holy wine of beer or Pepsi. Multinatinal corporations become denominaions, world religions, and they know no seperation of church and state."
-pg 190

And all of that relates to fasting, because I think fasting is about taking a stance against our culture of endless, insatiable consuming. Just like everything else, food has become an industry that is just another wheel in the economy and it's all focused on how large the profit margin can be. Which means that fasting is almost like a non-violent opposition to empire.

What does it all mean?

My thoughts at the conclusion of day 5...

"It's becoming normal to feel hungry, and this is making me think about the reality of what it means to be truly hungry...to be starving for a meal. What I am going through is not real hunger, because I still have the security of knowing that I will get a fully nutritious meal at the end of each day. Some people don't even have that basic assurance.

Hunger was not meant to be a part of God's plan for the world. People laying down to sleep hungry was never meant to happen. Life is supposed to be better then this, and we should be using our time and our privilege to fight malnutrition as if it was an emergency...because it is to the people experiencing it. We should be using every ounce of energy to alleviate this need...shouldn't we? But we don't. Does anyone disagree? We have the amazing capacity to ignore what is going on around us as if by the sheer power of our minds we might eliminate the truth.

I'm sorry for my apathy. It is more powerful and deeply ingrained than I could ever possibly imagine. And even as I am made aware of it I still cannot seem to shake it off."

Sorry that today's post was so depressive! I'll try and be more optimistic next time...

The deal is that I've decided to go hungry for 40 days. Self induced food deprivation.

I must be mad!

But I'm not the only one...my also insane friend Kelly is doing it with me. This is a 'normal' photo of us...



...and this is perhaps what you may call our 'true nature' coming out...yes we are mental!



We're actually into our 5th day of fasting, and the rule is that we are not allowed to put any morsel of food into our mouths between 7am and 7pm, except for coffee, juice or water (that's so we don't get sick). Also, if Kelly was to abstain from coffee for 40 days I think the consequences would be very ugly...so it's kind a self preservation strategy.

Why are we doing such a weird and random thing? I guess we're kind of jumping into it to see what happens, maybe God will do something big in our lives, maybe He won't...who knows! In the end it's supposed to help us focus on Him a bit more!

So if you're interested in reading about how hungry we are, follow my blog and Kelly's blog at www.kellyskilton.wordpress.com

Peace out y'all!