If ever I fasted before my three days fast, it had to have been one overnight; prior to a colonoscopy procedure. So when it was announced in prayer meeting; this thing of fasting for three whole days, I thought, how challenging. New York United Sabbath Day Adventist chursh was large, but not everyone cared to participate in that particular round of Prayer and Fasting. It commenced the day after prayer meeting, which was on a wednesday. So all day thursday, friday, and Sabbath until sunset; I fasted and felt pain before joy.
The decision to fast is usually made for one of two reasons. there is either a compelling health (diet, detox, medical, ets." or spiritual need. I was feeling like a prodigal daughter returning home, and volunteered my body for the challenge. I began envisioning those times when I was a child going to Sabbath School and Vacation Bible School at the Adventist church in Belize City. That was then. I was fifty five years of age when I found my way to another Adventist church I'd call my home church. Something in my soul flared like flames; yet tempered not to harm, but to give me joy. I had had an epiphany several weeks prior, so I wanted to fast, and pray, and share how I stayed with it.
The jogger in me said it wouldn't work. I was used to early morning workout on my carpet, then I would brisk walk from Amsterdam Avenue to Central Park West and Ninety Sixth Street, then all the way up on the mound that was Jackie Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. There, with scenic atmosphere and water view all around, I would jog 1.5 miles. Thereafter, I'd fetch my bike at home and head for Riverside Park. When all that was done, I'd return to shower and then enjoy breakfast. My routine was daily except for the weekend.
So on the first day of fasting, of course I jogged; but cancelled riding my bike. Following my shower, I wanted food. My brain remembered and nudged me to seek nothing but food. I prayed for strength to resist; but I smelled breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All at once, I wanted rice and beans cooked with cocoanut milk, and succulently stewed oxtail with green lima beans and carrot, and fried ripe plantain, and a good portion of gravy. I craved a delicious subway sandwish with avacado, tomato, lettuce, swiss cheese, and tuna melted on sesame bun. I wanted the taste of Jamaican ginger beer. My stomach provoked me to eat. My brain said it was time and over time for me to eat.
I began to feel anger, and hunger pains in my head, in my eyes, in the pit of my belly. I went to sleep that thursday night, and dreamt of a banquet.
The following friday I skipped working out on my carpet, but walked myself to Jackie Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park. There I commenced my usual jog, got into my rhythm with focus on my breathing, and I jogged my usual l.5 around. When that was done, I took myself home for shower, then goblets of plain warm water. When water wasn't enough, I chewed gum; would you believe. Gum that's known to give one the munchies, following a regular meal. I wanted breakfast, lunch, and dinner all at once. Day two of my fast was more torture.
Then came Sabbath morning, the third day of my fast. Upstairs in the Sanctuary, the smell of food crossed my mind. I knew that each Sabbath following Divine Service, we'd file downstairs for buffet style dinner and dessert. Not that day I couldn't. Our fast ended at sunset that Saturday, and because it was summer time, the sun lingered longer and that was that. The day before, water had become my trusted friend. I had short sessions with warm water and chewing gum. Those saved what was left of my sanity.
That evening following church, I noticed that my entire countenance was different from those two previous days. I felt light, and calm, and back in love with the world. Once home, I got into jogging gear and challenged myself to a weekend jog. Up on the mound at Jackie Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, I jogged like never before. Seemed to me I was gliding through the air with ease. At my starting and stopping point, I kept going and did a second round. To my surprise, my body and brain wanted more. I told myself, this thing of fasting did my body so much good; I could have jogged beyond two miles on empty, but I needed to be kind to me. Would I do it again? I suppose.
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