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Year Two, Day 44: Thoughts Matter

"Fasting is a good practice to adopt as we start serious work in the spiritual life. Most people think of fasting as eating nothing for long periods of time. However, John Cassain's [a fourth century monk] teaching on fasting is that we should simply put food and our thoughts about food into proper balance, eating only at meals and not in between. If we fast in this way, we can get in touch with our thoughts, because when we feel the bodily need of food and drink, we begin to notice our thoughts about food and we know we must let them go without acting on them if we hope to progress in calming our mind. If all we think about are bodily needs, then conscious prayer remains a distant goal. If we can't tame the thought of food, there is no hope of getting control of the more difficult thoughts, such as sex and anger."  Thoughts Matter: The Practice of the Spiritual Life, Mary Margaret Funk, 1998.

I am on my way down to Salem to teach today.  I just read the above paragraph.  Wise words from a 4th century monk! I often think the "old ways" were better.

I have been trying to unravel my eating issues for so long, but this is a perspective that really resonates with me at this time in my life.  I am seeking discipline, peace and a closer relationship to God.  And my obsession with food separates me from these goals.

I am still writing down what I eat in my food journal.  I notice that I seem to need to eat something every three hours. Limiting myself to three moderate meals a day sounds a little scary.  But, I must not be afraid!  

I have faced more than this in my life!

It actually motivates me. I like planning. My new plan will be to plan my daily meal times and try to fast in between.

I am ready. I can do this!

I will start tomorrow.

Hey, today is my India buffet lunch day! After which I plan on a nice long Salem walk. I have some things to ponder. Plus I need to walk off the India buffet lunch calories.

Happy Wednesday! :)


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