In 3rd Week, Fast for PA's Vulnerable Changing Me

Fast for PA’s Vulnerable entered its third week on Monday.

We are fasting to bring a prayer focus on Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable – children, the sick, the elderly and the homeless – during development of the 2011-2012 state budget. Pennsylvania, like many states, faces a financial crisis that includes making up a $4 billion deficit in the coming fiscal year. Some legislators want to chop nearly a half-billion dollars from programs serving the most vulnerable.

Our group is informal: Faith organizations - Christian, Jewish, and some others - committed to justice for the most vulnerable. We see this as a holy obligation, driven by our commitment to the divine.

Fasting is a spiritual discipline involving personal denial while focusing on prayer for God’s intercession. My fast involves a limited diet of juices, soups, and soy shakes until the budget is finalized.

The first few days were rough. It has always been tough for me to be a disciplined eater. A fast is way up on the scale of disciplined eating. It’s not a diet, but a lifestyle change that put a focus on prayer over consumption of food.

It’s a bit uncomfortable to write about fasting and prayer because it has turned into a very personal, intimate experience with God. I find myself praying at times and in places where I never consciously prayed before: lifting weights in the gym, trimming trees in the back yard, preparing a simple meal of mushroom-spinach soup, and even while watching hockey and basketball playoffs on television.

In its own way the fast has taken over my life. It is drawing me closer to God and closer to the hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians I don’t know, but that depend on the Commonwealth for life-sustaining services.

I’ve been wearing our sticker – Fast for PA’s Vulnerable – when I go out in public. It has generated a number of questions about what it means. They are opportunities to share what we are praying for and to ask folks to join in any way they wish.

Maybe people are just being polite here in Central Pennsylvania, but I haven’t felt or experienced any negative feedback. Not even a figurative “that’s a nice thing to do” pat on the top of my bald head.

Our perspective is that prayer works. God makes a difference in unseen ways. It’s our responsibility to lay these concerns before God, and to invite other persons of good will to join in this effort.

Join us in the Fast for PA’s Vulnerable. Ask God to touch the hearts and minds of our legislators and Gov. Corbett. It’s worth the time. It’s worth the hunger pangs.

A few words of caution: If you’re going to fast by reducing your food intake, consult with your health care practitioner first.