Today is the first Sunday of Advent. For me it involves a time of ‘Fasting.’ I strive to ‘Fast’ one day a week during the year and then during Advent and Lent I up the ante and strive to ‘Fast’ two or three days a week.
Fasting is a voluntary restraint – a voluntary removal. I have found that by removing the ‘usual’, the ‘familiar,’ and the ‘constant’ something less visible (or even invisible) is revealed or revealed more clearly. Perhaps the ‘negative’ that resides just below the surface or that has become deeply hidden within is revealed. I believe I am always immersed in ‘negative space’ – external and internal (‘Star Wars’ reminded us that ‘The Force’ does exist and this Force can be quite negative and it is a Force that surrounds us and fills us up). My capacity to be aware of that dimension is what the poet Keats called ‘negative capability.’
I think that what he meant was that I have the capacity to be receptive and mindful so that what is hidden, mute, ignored, hurt, beautiful, good, and true can be revealed, heard, embraced, healed or nurtured – all can be valued. For me, Fasting is a ‘negative capability.’ At times Fasting is about ‘food’ and at times it has nothing to do with what we generally refer to as food for the body.
One of the most challenging ‘Fasts’ for me to embrace is the ‘Fast-From Clutter.’ I live surrounded by books and papers. Piles of books and stacks of papers plus book bags stuffed with more books and papers are strewn about. When I ‘Fast-From Clutter’ I often discern that I have a deeper need for ‘order’ in my life. I also become aware that internally I am also full of clutter and it is the internal clutter that is debilitating (I love the clutter of books and papers milling about waiting to be discovered when I go on a search).
In ‘Fasting-From Clutter’ I often become aware of the internal noise that clutters my mind – or I become aware of the many ways I use external noise as a ‘Clutter of Distraction.’
In addition to Fasting as a means of ‘reducing,’ Fasting can also help me become aware of what I need more of – say, quiet time for reflection or meditation. Fasting also helps me ‘simplify’ – this is no easy task for one who loves clutter.
In the past I have ‘Fasted-From’: complaining, explaining, expecting, anticipating, ruminating (about the past), and worry (about the future). As I ‘Fasted-From’ I also sought to replace the empty space with ‘Care For…’ with ‘Love For…’ and with ‘Compassion For…’ I have learned that if I ‘empty-of’ that I need to ‘fill-up’ with something else.
‘Fasting-From’ food helps me understand how dependent I am and how needy I am, and how vulnerable I am. Where, then, do I turn for sustenance? Where do I turn in order to be nurtured? Where do I turn? For me, ‘Fasting-From’ enables me to choose to seek out Spiritual Sustenance. ‘Fasting-From’ also enables me to become more aware of others and their needs – and I am more likely to be open to seeking ways to serve their highest priority needs.
‘Fasting From. . .’ enables me to ‘Care For. . .’ In closing, I offer us a quotation from Dan Allender: “Fasting from any nourishment, activity, involvement or pursuit—for any season—sets the stage for God to appear. Fasting is not a tool to pry wisdom out of God’s hands or to force needed insight about a decision. Fasting is not a tool for gaining discipline or developing piety (whatever that might be). Instead, fasting is the bulimic act of ridding ourselves of our fullness to attune our senses to the mysteries that swirl in and around us.”