And on the Seventh Day....

 "On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested^[a] from all his work.  And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation" Genesis 2: 2-3 NLT

Well, I'm on Day 7 of my fast, and I am impressed with myself.  I have handled this so much better than ever before and for the most part I'm not the slightest bit phased by what I CAN'T eat.  Instead, I have been so excited about all things that I CAN eat-those foods that I already love and new foods as well!

I'm not saying that this hasn't been a challenge on some levels.  Believe me... I have craved a Chick-fil-A sandwich almost every other day. Counting those billboards on I-75 that say "Eat More chicken"  And then yesterday, I had lunch with a fellow law school class mate and my cousin at Strip in Atlantic Station (they are known you their delicious steaks).  The two of them ordered steak and potatoes, philly cheese steak and fries, and nachos with cheese and beef-ummm!  But, it wasn't that big of a deal.  I drank water while they had the appetizer and then I had a Sushi roll with avocado and cucumber for my entree.  It was soooo good and I was soooo full when I left.   During lunch, I was asked- "Why are you fasting?  What's the point?"  At that moment, I had the chance to really challenge my own motives.

I said (and actually meant) "Fasting is a way for me to stay focused on my goals of growing spiritually closer to God while discovering myself in the process.  Every time I think about something great I would love to eat,  I am reminded to pray, meditate, and re-group.  It's keeping me centered."   I said this and I believed this.

This is no longer about the food(what I can eat and can't eat).  Its much bigger than that.  As I reflect on this  fast, I think back to 4 and 1/2  years ago when I was planning my wedding.  I had purchased my wedding dress almost a year before our date and it fit perfectly.  Well, when I tried it on about two months before our date, it wouldn't zip all the way.  Oh boy!  There was not even a second of contemplation, but pure determination- I was going to fit into that dress. So, I decided to eat super healthy(smoothies, fruits, veggies, water) and exercise regularly.  And that, I did with no problem at all.  I mean, you could've slapped me in the face with a slice of my favorite pizza and I wouldn't have licked the sauce off my mouth.  I was set on an idea- end of story-period!  Because at that point, it was no longer about the food (what I could eat and couldn't eat).  It was about looking my best for the love of my life on our wedding day.  Much bigger than food!

This fast is much bigger than food!  It's about my journey, my relationship with God, and my many discoveries along the way- especially as I prepare to turn 30.  So, it is through this realization that I find this fast to be not only 'do-able', but so necessary.

So on this 7th day of my fast, I feel a sense of completion- not fully- but partially.  I feel that I have come full circle to understanding the meaning and basis of my reasons for fasting.  And for now, that's enough for me.  Until next time..