Why Fast?

Our good friend visits with newborn

There are two popular questions for us this month. First is the question we’re asked: “Are you fasting?” This question is asked by everyone— complete strangers passing us on the street will ask. It is an obvious source of curiosity— will a foreigner living on the islands observe this special month’s ritual?

A “yes” will tell them that we are following their faith. A “no” will tell them that we are faithless. So our short answer is usually, “We do fast, but not like y’all do.” This obviously begs more questions— how is our fasting different? If we do fast, when do we fast?

This was especially challenging when we first came to Africa because in reality we rarely fasted. Were we being disingenuous by saying “we do fast”.  We could perhaps justify our response by thinking the “we” referred to our grander tradition which we were trying to represent. Even if we didn’t fast regularly, it was part of our tradition’s established disciplines. But then if it is part of our tradition, why isn’t it part of our personal traditions?

My first real exposure to fasting was in junior high when we had a fundraiser fast to raise money for the poor and malnourished. But otherwise, I didn’t have anyone encouraging me to fast or explaining its purpose outside the fundraiser idea. I read about it— back in the first century it is referred to as a weekly practice. In college I did a few fasts for specific purposes. Then in graduate school I had a professor who made fasting a regular part of their year with extended long fasts. Still it wasn’t until being on the islands for awhile that we experimented with making fasting a regular, even weekly discipline.

But all this leads to the second popular question. “Why do you fast?” This is Tom’s favorite question for islanders during this month. Islanders don’t usually ask this question, perhaps because the answer to them is obvious. “It’s an obligation.” They tell us. “We have to.” “God told us to.” We recognize these answers, but push again— “but why? What is the purpose?” Islanders aren’t sure. They know, “We get points [toward heaven] if we do,” but they aren’t clear if that is the “right” answer to this question for their tradition.

Our kids finish the homeschool year!

Many people in our tradition might struggle to answer this same question, but we realize how important it is. When we say, “we fast but not like y’all do.” The islander automatically thinks it is about the hours of the day, or how many days, or which month of the year. They assume that our fasting just follows a different set of legalistic rules. But there are no rules, there is no obligation. Our fasting isn’t about that, or at least it isn’t supposed to be. The heart and the motivation is the important thing. Islanders usually focus on the “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, “how”, but those aren’t really important to us— for us the “why” makes all the difference.

There isn’t necessarily one “right” answer to the “why” question either— maybe you fast to heighten your prayers, or as you seek guidance or seek the truth, or as you repent, or as a way to see the status of your heart, but ultimately the “why” points to a relationship with our Creator. We need to be reminded that we don’t follow rules, we follow God.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We’ve had some encouraging visits this week. First our group’s country leader spent a couple days with us reflecting on our time on Clove Island (these past 3+ years) and looking to the future. It was a good time and we are excited about where the work on the islands is heading. Next we had a visit from our island sister who was being pressured and ostracized by her family. Her father has reconciled with her and she is hopeful that he will speak to the more distant family members (who started the trouble). Finally Ma Imani came to visit and told us her sister has expressed interest in studying with her again. These are answers to some longstanding requests. Keep praying! Our kids finished their year of homeschool (2nd grade & Kindergarten). We’re thankful for the ways they are learning!

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Continue to pray with us during this month of fasting. Pray for all the opportunities during this month— especially for our islander friends. Continue to pray for our house hunt— now that homeschool is done, we plan to spend more of our days trying to find a house for when we return in 2017. Pray also that we’d find housing in the Boston area for the fall/winter (if you know of a housesitting or subleasing possibility then let us know!). We have less than 3 weeks before we leave—pray that we use our time well.