Here is without doubt one of the most extraordinary conversion stories I have ever heard. Notice particularly the role of fasting in this guys life. It comes from the EWTN progamme, 'The Journey Home', hosted by Marcus Grodi..and alwasy worth listening too: St. John Chrysostom: Those who live in the world, even though married, ought to resemble the monks in everything else. You are entirely mistaken if you think that there are some things required of ordinary people, and others of monks… they will have the same account to render. http://www.youtube.com/user/EWTN?blend=1&ob=5#p/u/2/w4TK9qI4-4A
You know, hearing his story brings long fasts into a modern reality. Gee, he's not dead...in fact, he looks rather healthy! In our world today, people try every reasoning they can to tell you this is WRONG!!! That it is the most unhealthy thing you can do, that you'll end up in the hospital...dadada. They put it on the same level as behlemia or anorexia. HOWEVER, for many years now I have been completely intrigued with the thought of a long fast. I want to do it, but I lack the courage to stand up to everyone around me. Another huge arguement is medical problems. I have some, so more fuel for those around me. Is the problem really that we do not trust God? Mary has told us to do bread and water. She says that is best. Jesus didn't tell us anything, he showed us...40 days with no food at all. Then we made up all the "options" to satisfy human weakness and ideas that we put above Jesus' example, and Mary's recommendation which allows bread. We say children shouldn't do it at all, nor should the sick. Well, perhaps those are the two biggest mistakes. We should teach our children to do as Jesus did, so why do we not teach them to fast? (not for a long time of course, but a day now and then...a family fast day) The sick, they need healing. Why deny them such a powerful avenue? I have diabetes (type II, plenty of insulin, just too much sugar) and also a blocked artery that has been opened, do you know how many, including my catholic doctor, have told me I should not fast at all? But then, there is Mary, telling me I should. She does not say "Unless you have diabetes". The longest consecutive fast I have ever done is 3 days of bread and water. A mere drop in the bucket compared to Keith Major. My family plain-out thinks I am committing suicide if I fast more than one day on bread and water. Heck, my husband won't even fast for half a day! Oh how I wish we could fast together, but I just don't think he ever will. You know, when I fast on bread and water, my glucose is normal by day 2...and by day 3, I am no longer hungry and I start to feel rejuvinated. I know I could go for at least a week, but my husband would make me crazy if I tried. I wish I could go away for a week and not have to answer to anyone but God. I long for the clarity that a long fast provides to those who do it. Though you are not supposed to flaunt your fast, sometimes you would like a little support from a loved one. Instead everyone around you is trying to get you to stop fasting. Seeing a testimony like above just makes me want it all the more. Am I crazy?
