In her latest book, Savor, Shauna Niequist talks about Feasting and Fasting:
“I’m learning, slowly, a rhythm of feasting and fasting that brings a rich cadence to my year. I use the word fasting loosely, as an opposite term to feasting-permission and discipline, necessary slides back and forth along the continuum of how we feed ourselves.”
It’s really a continuation of the ideas she posed in Bread and Wine (one of my favorite books), where she stated:
“Fasting gives me a chance to practice the discipline of not having what I want at every moment, of limiting my consumption, making space in my body and in my spirit for a new year, one that’s not driven by my mouth, by wanting, by consuming.”
“I’m working to find a middle ground-some fasting, some feasting. At some points, gobbling up life with every bite; in other seasons, mastering the appetites and tempering the desires. My work these days is to find that balance-allowing my senses to taste every bite of life without being driven by appetites, indiscriminate and ravenous. Some days I get it right, and some days I don’t, but I do know that along the way, the process is healing me.
Her views on feasting and fasting resonated with me. Often life naturally produces seasons of feasting and fasting (F&F), and other times we need the discipline to implement those into our own operating systems.
As I’ve thought more on this concept, I’ve realized how broad the application is.
I find myself going through feasting and fasting (F&F) seasons in all areas.
For instance, today is my kids last day of school. The last nine months have mostly been filled with structure and schedules. Routine has been the name of the game, but at 2:40pm, structure is going out the window for awhile. We are going to enjoy sleeping in, and staying up late. We will have late dinners to enjoy the extended sunlight and playtime hours. We’ll be all play and little to no work (at least for a couple weeks). In a lot of ways, the school year (and baseball season) means fasting from being care free, and soon we will feast on being without restrictions in our schedule.
At the beginning of the year, my husband and I did a restrictive diet for awhile (him, admittedly much longer than me!). We really enjoyed how we felt, and how we enjoyed the occasional feasting more. We’ve tried to make it our baseline since. Often the weekend or special occasions involve feating for us; but we try to quickly return to a more conscious and restricted way of eating. When we go on trips where we feast for extended periods of time, we feel it. We feel the effects of indulgence, and so we fast.
Another important way I’ve been implementing the idea of F&F is with social media. To be honest, I’d gotten lazy with my consumption. I’d been binging on social media, and the habitual exposure to it had taken it’s toll, and I realized I needed a fast. So I’ve been off Facebook and Instagram for awhile, and it’s been SO good. For the first few days I literally had to retrain my mind and body to not click on the app it was used to going to. Sometimes we don’t realize the effects feasting on something is having on us until we step away to fast. We retrain our brains. I didn’t realize just how much regular exposure to social media was affecting my thought life. Since I’ve stepped away, I’ve found myself struggling with comparison and insecurity a lot less. Some decisions I’d been bit clouded on have become much easier to discern. I find myself having a more right perspective of relationships as whole, and ironically, have found myself having MORE real interactions with people since I don’t have a false sense of community from social media. (although ironically, to share this post I will have to log onto social media!)
I also see rhythms of F&F in how I read God’s word as well. Sometimes I devour it. I can tear through several chapters, or even whole books at a time. I take in podcasted sermons, and books. It’s like I’m starving and I just need to soak it up. Other times, I need to scale back bit. I don’t need massive chunks, I just need to cling to one verse (sometimes even one word!). I’ve got a little chalkboard where I try to jot these verses, or words down to help me focus and meditate on them throughout the day. As much as I love ingesting concepts and seeing the big picture that you get through large doses of the bible; I find my heart and mind can be more intent with just a verse or word for the day. Now I’m not promoting proof-texting (taking a verse out of context to try to obtain your desired meaning), but focusing. As you go through the Word, or your study, do smaller passages and then pick a verse or word that really hones in on what you feel like you need to focus on for the day.
I’ve found applying the principal of F&F to lots of areas of my life had made me more intentional and deliberate. It’s also made me more aware, and grateful. I enjoy decadent food so much more when I’m not indulging in it every day. I’m really excited about being schedule free with my kids for awhile after being so anal about it for months! And I love how having one word or a verse in my heart for the day can help me be more intent in my relationship with God.
What are the ways you are seeing the rhythms of F&F in your life? What are the areas you need to feast in and what do you need to fast from?
” I find myself having a more right perspective of relationships as whole, and ironically, have found myself having MORE real interactions with people since I don’t have a false sense of community from social media.”
That hit hard; wrecked me. But I needed it. I was wrestling through my own daily compulsion, and let’s be honest here, multiple times daily compulsion, to log on to Facebook and Instagram, and for what reason? Mainly, to satisfy my desire to feel connected, to be a part of a community. The feelings don’t last though. I’ve been working on REAL interactions for a while now, but I need that social media fast for while, too.
“In a lot of ways, the school year (and baseball season) means fasting from being care free, and soon we will feast on being without restrictions in our schedule.” I can relate. I’ve been confined to schedules for the last several school years. I remember how freeing it felt not too long ago when I opened my calendar to June & saw nothing but blank space. And just last night, I was headed home after work, but a friend called and asked me to come over just because. I was nearly home, but I turned around and drove across town to her house because I could. And we had a great night. I need to learn how to be care free more often.
Thanks for this post today. It’s still resonating with me.