Monday, March 2, 2009

More thoughts on fasting..

I've received some feedback (unfortunately, off-blog) regarding my previous post on fasting and the issues I have experienced with it. I have been offered various types of fasts and "how-to"s... As I stated previously, I have read all sorts of books, articles, etc. about how to fast and what to eat when fasting, and why one should fast... that's not really the issue.
Knowing how and why something should be done, does not necessarily make it happen. If we could all follow through with our best intentions, and always do things correctly and always make the best choices, I guess we could do away with Church altogether, cause we wouldn't need the graces and blessings of the Sacraments... we'd be restored to our original Edenic perfection!
For me, fasting is a spiritual struggle and perhaps will always be so. Perhaps this struggle is given to me by God to help me grow spiritually. Growth in holiness is always fraught with struggle, false starts, the too high expections we place upon ourselves and the humility that comes from realizing we are but dust. After all, this is the message that we start out the Lenten Season with: Remember that thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return.
So I will continue to struggle with fasting and to rely totally upon God's graces to see me through.

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