This week I said something on Instagram about how fasting doesn’t need to equal suffering. What I meant was that there is enough suffering already in our lives.

In the past ten years I’ve walked through a lost pregnancy, several terrifying diagnoses of my children, the death of a handful of beloved friends, the split of a church community I adored (caused by leadership decisions I had a hand in). I sat with my dad as he came to terms with his terminal illness and sat with him eleven months later when we ushered him to the end. And as I come to this first week of Lent at the tail-end of a pandemic, in a country divided into hardened edges, and watching an evil war catching flame before my eyes, I honestly can’t imagine choosing to suffer any extra bit right now. 

Maybe you feel that way too? Now don’t hear me saying that suffering doesn’t cause growth. It sure does. And maybe suffering is the straightest path toward spiritual growth. But I don’t think we need to inflict external suffering on ourselves in order to grow. I am pretty sure I reject that idea completely. 

Join me today as I reflect on how my concept of fasting has changed over time (I still can’t believe 23-year-old Micha was able to give up coffee for 40 days) and what my motivation for fasting is now.

Links:

• This reflection and practice were also published this week in The Slow Way Newsletter.
• Click HERE for free downloads/printables that say “we are becoming more fully alive to God”
• Read Hearts On Fire: Praying With Jesuits by Michael Harter here 
• Find a transcript of this episode here. 
• Find Micha's website and sign up for her weekly newsletter here
• Find Micha on Instagram
• Find Micha on Twitter
• Micha's other podcast, The Lucky Few, is all about Down syndrome advocacy. She cohosts it with Heather Avis and Mercedes Lara.
• Found: A Story of Questions, Grace, and Everyday Prayer is available everywhere books are sold