To sum up...7 Food Fast

Last week was interesting doing the 7 food fast.  I won't repeat everything I already wrote in previous posts, but I do have to admit that I bailed a few hours early.  Friday evening, our homeschool group had a mom's meeting with really great food and I was hungry.  I figured I'd learned everything I was going from the week and so I indulged.  EVERYTHING tasted so good!  So my takeaway from the last day of the fast was that going without, even for just a few days, makes you really appreciate all aspects of food when you go back to normal: the flavors, the textures, the choices.  However, I was just a little disappointed in myself at how easily I was able to justify ending the fast early.  And how quickly I have slipped right back into my old food/eating routines.  I can definitely see the benefit to doing some version of the fast every so often just to refocus and be reminded to be thankful and mindful of all those who go without.

I signed up our family to help feed the homeless in a couple of weeks.  We did it once last fall and the opportunity came up again at church, so I jumped on it.  This summer I want to find places that we can volunteer at regularly, either a homeless shelter or food pantry or something related so my kids can see that not everyone has what they do and meet these people to see that they aren't any different than us, just living in harder circumstances. 

There's a fairly new Christian song that pretty much sums up where I'm at right now.  It's called I Refuse by Josh Wilson.  Here are the lyrics and you can look it up on YouTube to hear the actual song.  Enjoy!

Sometimes I just want to close my eyes
And act like everyone's alright
When I know they're not
This world needs God
But it's easier to stand and watch
I could say a prayer and just move on
Like nothing's wrong

But I refuse
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse
To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

I can hear the least of these
Crying out so desperately
And I know we are the hands and feet
Of You, oh God
So, if You say move
It's time for me to follow through
And do what I was made to do
Show them who You are

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse
To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

To stand and watch the weary and lost
Cry out for help
I refuse to turn my back
And try and act like all is well
I refuse to stay unchanged
To wait another day, to die to myself
I refuse to make one more excuse

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse
To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse
I refuse
I refuse