Conversations About Fasting: Rochelle Bridges
The following is a conversation with Rochelle Bridges concerning the discipline of fasting.
Click on the following links to read other fasting conversations with David Bridges, Becky Towne, and Jim Towne.
Why do you fast?
I do not fast from food very often, but when I do, it is for the purpose of praying for something that is really important to me and to make me more aware of how food (or whatever I am fasting from) has a grip on me and how it taints my perspective of the situation I am facing.
How completely do you fast: total abstaining from food, or only certain foods? Or do you drink liquids only?
I drink liquids, including plain broth if it is for a full twenty-four hours. I don’t fast longer than that.
How often do you fast?
It depends on the reason I am fasting. For instance, several moms and myself have been fasting one day a week to pray for our children over the past couple of months. I am doing this because I care about my friends’ kids and know they care for mine, too. So we pray specifically if there is something we know is going on with them and generally for them otherwise. Sometime I fast when something is pressing and I want to make sure I am doing all I can to listen to God as he leads through Scripture, prayer and others.
If you are fasting for a specific purpose, does that change anything about your fasting practices?
Yes. If I am doing a partial day fast, I restrict not only my food intake, but also my liquid intake. If fasting longer, I include at least one cup of broth because I have low blood sugar and get physically shaky. I don’t want my spiritual practice to become a medical issue that causes distraction from the reason for the fast.
At what time of the day do you begin a fast?
This depends on the reason for the fast. At different times in my life, I have felt like my responsibilities dictated that I take very good care of myself. At those times, I will have a very light breakfast (a piece of toast) and then skip the noon meal. Then I will eat the evening meal with my family. This is my most common practice if fasting from food.
I also fast from noise, electronics and people. These fasts are part of my normal routine and practice.
Do you try to “retreat from life” during a fast, or do you go about your daily activities?
Most of the time I keep immersed in my daily activities. I am trying, however, to be more mindful about being thankful or asking for guidance during my fast than I might be on a typical day.
What are the positive and negative aspects of either option?
I think it would be much more difficult to fast from food when I was retreating because of the space created in the day. Fasting during daily activities gives me a distraction from the hunger and makes it easier to ignore. However, I think it’s much more difficult to fast from noise, electronics and people on a daily basis. This requires much more intentional decision-making for me.
Usually when we are hungry, we tend to be “short” with those around us; if you are not retreating, how do you make sure that fasting is a positive experience for your family and coworkers?
That is the question that has shaped the type of fasting I do most often– skipping the noon meal. I feel that while I have children at home, a full-time job, school to attend and a home to care for, I have a responsibility to take care of myself as much as possible and to be wise about my choices. When I reflect on the purpose of a fast, it is to make me more mindful (more of the “spirit” of the fast) than to focus on what I am giving up (the “laws” of the fast).
What do you add to your day during a fast? In lieu of eating, do you engage in something else? Do you add Scripture reading, meditating, prayer, exercise, etc.?
I am more aware of making time for my prayers during the day and the purpose of seeking God’s help through the discipline of fasting. In fact, I usually have very specific things I pray for on that day and strive to discipline myself to keep a prayerful attitude as I continue my tasks for the day.
What are your thoughts upon completing a fast?
I am not sure I have ever come to the end of a fast from food that gave me positive feelings. Sometimes I wonder if it was helpful at all. Other times, I feel glad that I did it even though I didn’t get any good feelings from doing it. I would say that most of the time, I don’t get any good feelings unless I talk about it to someone else. On the flip side, talking about it makes me feel “proud” of myself and then that defeats the whole point. So I guess I am conflicted about it most of the time. Fasting from noise, electronics and people, however, rejuvenates me and I nearly always come away from those fasts feeling that what I did was good for me.
What would you say to someone who is a beginner at fasting?
I feel like I am a beginner at fasting from food, even though I have practiced it from time to time over many years. However, I suggest to others like myself to contemplate why you want to fast: how will fasting contribute to your intended outcome? I am often tempted to feel a sense of self-righteousness when I fast and am aware that I fasted for other motives than spiritual seeking. At those times, I think I really missed out on an opportunity to learn more about being in relationship with God in an unfamiliar way for me. Consider other types of fasting besides just food. These types of fasts have, hands down, had a greater impact in my life and have become a significant part of my spiritual journey.