Fasting

The picture is of Marsha when she was a leader on a Cursillo retreat. One of the disciplines Marsha used to prepare for and/or support a Cursillo was fasting. Until she had diabetes she fasted for twenty four hours for every Cursillo, and prayed for the retreat every time she felt the hunger. A routine yearly disciplines at Lent was to omit one meal per week and donate the money it cost to serve that meal to an organization that feeds the world's starving. Many reasons exist for fasts but usually they are for some desired change, and often draw those fasting closer to the Lord as well.

In about ten minutes the youth of my church will fast for thirty hours on only water. They will all be together during a directed overnight time at church. I pray this time will be blessed by the Lord for both our youth and the recipients of the money they raise for World Vision. It is a funny coincidence that my first church as rector held a thirty hour fast last weekend for World Vision. I read of their excitement of accomplishment both personal and excitement for their service to others. I pray that the youth here at Church of the Resurrection will know both kinds of accomplishment and that each of them will have somehow drawn closer to the Lord as well during this fast today. I volunteered to supervise the cardboard village in which they will sleep on the front lawn of the church tonight from 3 AM to 6 AM. I pray also that they all want to sleep tonight.