Why Fast? Spiritual Benefits and Practical Suggestions for Fasting By Mark Kutolowski Fasting – it’s perhaps the single discipline most associated with Lent. We are reminded of the practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving every year at the beginning of Lent as we commemorate Jesus Christ’s 40-day fast in the wilderness. While I grew up hearing about the spiritual value of fasting every year, practically this was translated into the practice of ‘giving up’ something for Lent. It could be a favored food, like chocolate or soda, or it could be giving up reading news media or watching TV. My dad always gave up eating between meals.
As a quick and rather pointless aside, I grew up in Croton, NY. Unsurprisingly no one ever spoke about, or maybe even knew about the connection to Pythagoras. I only found out in college, I think. But there was a high-end watch company, Croton Watch, in my town--they even sponsored a Little League team. It was originally founded in Croton, Italy and felt that it was a natural move to Croton, NY. Though, I think they have since moved. I consider myself a Pythagorean, at least by way of Plato.
What any of this has to do with fasting, I can't really say. -Jack
As a quick and rather pointless aside, I grew up in Croton, NY. Unsurprisingly no one ever spoke about, or maybe even knew about the connection to Pythagoras. I only found out in college, I think. But there was a high-end watch company, Croton Watch, in my town--they even sponsored a Little League team. It was originally founded in Croton, Italy and felt that it was a natural move to Croton, NY. Though, I think they have since moved. I consider myself a Pythagorean, at least by way of Plato.
What any of this has to do with fasting, I can't really say. -Jack