So, this week marked Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Seeing as I’m not Catholic, I usually miss this day. Typically, I don’t find out until later in the week, or until I’m out walking around, and I see small huddles of people with ash on their face, not eating ice cream.
Though I have no religious obligation to participate in Lent, I’ve been attracted to the practice ever since Jr High. A lifestyle of sacrifice – or the voluntary giving-up of things in our life – is a lifestyle I wish to cultivate. When I returned from India, I decided to be more proactive about that giving-up process. I realized if I could make small adjustments in my life, it would be a constant reminder of my friends on the other side of the world.
Without having a concrete reason why, I decided to give up Starbucks and all soda this year. That’s a little bit longer than the 40-Day period of Lent, but it was a challenge I wanted to commit myself to (and so far, I’ve stuck to it). After returning, I found a bit more of a reason to be giving up soda products. Turns out, the Coca-Cola plant in India caused local groundwater levels to plummet, over-exploiting the resources local farmers depend upon for their livelihood, and the sustainability of the local economy.
So far, that habit of sacrifice has served as an excellent reminder to keep my present to life outside my culture. It’s too easy for me to forget about what I cannot see. Not indulging in my every whim keeps me from forgetting. But it takes intentional habits to cultivate a lifestyle of un-indulgence. (To read more by me on Habits, click this archived post from The Taiwan Drift)
All that to say, I appreciate when others call for a culture of neglect. My friend Joel runs a blog & Activist/Artist Collective called The Revolt Network. Through the network, Joel is calling for a 40-Day holistic fast called Starve Your Life. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot on the concept of “A Third Way.” I alluded to it in my last entry, and plan to explicate it a bit in the near future. But in brief, it’s the attitude that seeks balance. It seeks a subversive approach to violence and oppression. Service that sets free; Love that fights enemies: it’s a paradox, really. It makes fools of the wise, and exalts the outcast.
Through the Collective, Joel makes clear that Revolt is not a rebellion against something, but rather towards the right thing. That is the essence of the Third Way.
Check out Revolt and all they’re doing. If you are taking part of Lent or another fast, post what you’re giving up in the comments. I wanna hear. Whether you’re religious and fast regularly, or you’ve never even considered the practice, I encourage you to question and probe the things in your life you find yourself in excess of. What part of you needs to be starved? We live in so much excess. But I’m choosing to change that. I don’t need to give in to the over-indulgence of my culture. I’m cultivating habits. I’m Starving.
I leave you with a portion of liturgy posted on the Starve Your Life, Revolt Collective blog entry. Easily I could find these words as a mantra to live my life by. I hope it’s equally inspirational to you.
We have chosen to fast
Not with ashes but with actions
Not with sackcloth but in sharing
Not in thoughts but in deeds
We will give up our abundance
To share our food with the hungry
We will give up our comfort
To provide homes for the destitute
We will give up our fashions
To see the naked clothed
We will share where others hoard
We will free where others oppress
We will heal where others harm
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Your blog is always so invigorating, Chase. I know I don’t come here to starve ;P I must say I’ve enjoyed your writings since following your blog and like the direction you’re currently going with it. Thanks
i’m in the process og giving up pepsi/cola too. i substitute it with ribena drink. haha. the reason why i’m giving it up is because … one day i woke up looking for it in the fridge downstairs, and that my friend, is a sign of addiction.
Starving an addiction is a good thing to starve.
Keep me posted!
I wean myself of coffee every now and then just to be sure.
I hope you’re able to succeed in your starving
Invigorating, huh? : P Thanks Floreta.
If you can tell where I’m directing this blog, let me know, because I don’t feel it has a clear-cut direction right now.
Oh well, I guess that’s all a part of the Journey. : )
http://operationstarvation.tumblr.com/post/279479052/heard-a-guy-earlier-say-that-he-was-starving-i
ha
You already know the things I’m giving up. My pastor gave a sermon this morning about the idea of Lent and giving addictions up, and it occurred to me that I don’t even miss Coca Cola now. A few weeks ago, there were points when I had a super bad craving for it, and I almost got some, but remembering, in particular, that story about the plant in India, stopped me dead in my tracks. And now, I drink coffee, tea, milk and water as my daily intake of liquid, and I don’t miss pop at all. In fact, I had a pop in Austin yesterday (a fair trade, organic cola from a co-op, ahah [subtext: i'm a hippie]), and I surprised myself by thinking, “Okay, how did I drink this EVERYDAY?”
“Starving yourself” can often lead you to realize that what you thought you needed was really something you could do without.
Good post. Cheers!
haha. I actually thought of that post when I typed this one.
Almost made a round-a-bout reference but steered against it.
Thanks much. I was at my grandma’s house yesterday, and that is the only place where I instinctively go into the fridge, grab a mountain dew and start drinking. (My grandma’s cool enough to keep her fridge stocked for me), but I stopped myself yesterday, and I’ll admit, it was weird. But mostly, I’m like you, not missing the drinks at all. I definitely take in a lot more water now. And that’s not a bad thing.
I’ve never thought too much about Lent. It’s never been made a big deal of in churches that I’ve gone to. But this year, I sort of fell into it and it’s been good. Really good. Good to think about what controls me and what I try to control.
Have been reading some thoughts from Rob Bell and thus directed to think about what I’m trying to control…future happenings, relationships, circumstances. And…realized, that, far too often, it’s me that controls me and I try to control me. And it’s not supposed to be about me!
I liked that Revolt is not a rebellion against something, but rather towards the right thing…puts it all in a good perspective.
Thanks Chase. Cheers! (With water, of course.)
I suppose you know how I got here. :>)
I’m with you on Lent. I didn’t pay much attention to it until I got into blogging. Then suddenly it was everywhere. It’s the April Fool’s day of the Christian Internet world (if that makes any sense).
This year, I’m not specifically giving anything up, but I like the general theme going around. It’s definitely something to make me stop and consider more deliberately the addictions I have in my life… the areas where I’m dependent apart from Christ. For that alone, I’m grateful (even though I don’t always feel like I want to be).
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Thanks for popping by, Marshall.
I think Lent is about addictions. It’s about our hearts, and the things in our life that’s fighting for control.
Usually, my fasts are private, but I think Lent is a good time to air that dirty laundry to those in our life whom we love and trust.
It might be “Well, I eat Ice Cream too much” but it might be a lot heavier than that too.
And we must remember not to just run to our addictions after the period of fasting is up ;P That’s always the catch, eh?
Thanks for stopping in, bro.
-Chase
I think what you are doing is very admirable, especially since you are not Catholic and have no obligation. Good for you!
It would be extremely hard for me to give up Diet Coke and Starbucks. I’m addicted to Diet Coke and have a sister that works at Starbucks, so both are readily available all the time. Good luck!
Thanks for the encouragement, Barbara!
I’ve definitely discovered that only good comes from giving up the things we cling to.
…or, we start to cling to other things, like diet pepsi and Coffee Bean. hah!
The Coca Cola company has been facing bans in my state for some time now, over the Groundwater allegation, much similar to the one you mentioned, though at a much earlier time. Though I should say I’ve been drinking soda of late, there was a period of say about an year of two where coke was totally off the list. You can easily get over it, if you stay off it for say 3 months or so, you’ll find that your next bottle of soda would taste like heavily sweetened water and nothing can replace the bottle of water you’re drinking right now.
You’re absolutely right. I’ve given up soda in the past, and was surprised how overbearingly sweet it was when I took another sip again.
I remember doing an experiment in High School Biology that modeled what Acidic Soda does to your insides… I guess there’s always the added benefit of *not* having that happen, too.
And isn’t it sad that we never routinely hear about the bad press these negative companies receive? I wonder if as many people would support them if their questionable ethics were brought to light routinely. :/
This made me laugh: “huddles of people with ash on their face, not eating ice cream.” =)
I am giving up: a whole lot right now
In order to: grasp what does not appear to be tangible/obtainable
and I am sorry for: the Starbucks invite
Haha, there was an invite, but we never went. Fridays was a much better choice anyways, right?
Actually, it was the Sushi that won me over, but you knew that : P
It’s amazing though, isn’t it? How we can release what is tangible to find what is real.
I’ve always wondered what the whole giving-up thing is all about.
Is it for yourself, or for some kind of higher power?
To prove you’re a valued servant of God, or something?
I mean, I can see the point in giving what you have to other people — food, for example — but ‘giving up cigarettes/alcohol/food for God/lent/ramadan/etc’… give me a break.
Why give up soda, but not fruit juice? Same amount of sugar, almost identical ingredients. Did you give up coffee entirely, or just Starbucks?
It’s all just a bit… pointless.
I definitely respect that, Mr Seb.
And to be honest, a lot of it is pointless. To think that you’re greatness is in any way hinging on what you give up is quite absurd. All you’re doing is missing out on “the good stuff of life” …right?
To Catholics, Lent (and other religious fasts, as I understand them) are not a giving up to prove one’s worth, but rather habit forming to keep perspective. Lent teaches not to give up X to “be great in God’s eyes”, but rather to keep God in your mind’s eye. If you’re forming the habit of not reaching for a donut, every time you do, you’ll stop yourself and then remember why you’re not going to let yourself eat them. It’s an act to call God into your mind during times of the day you might forget. Catholic tradition would say “Jesus gave up his life, so we could at least give up the good stuff for 40 days.” Quite the trade-off, eh?
Also, it’s about discipline. This is a big piece for me, because frankly, I think I have too much stuff, and too much access to stuff. Training myself to say no keeps me focused on what’s important. Both reasons above are very private disciplines, and Jesus talked about not letting anyone know when you fast (”Wash your face and do your hair, don’t look haggard”). The public aspect of Lent is a bit misleading, I believe.
Another type of fast, though, is a public protest. My reasons for giving up Starbucks (not all coffee) and soda fall more along these lines. Quite frankly, I can’t rightly give my money to CocaCola when I know they’re wrecking havoc on the limited water supply of my friends in India. Starbucks doesn’t pay their farmers adequate wages for the sake of selling us a cheap product. They boast “30% of our beans are fairtrade!” …but really, that means 70% of their farmers are taking it in the rear so I can pay a couple dollars for a cup. Meanwhile the ‘Bucks pockets something around 200-300% (easily, I’m sure). Again, I can’t rightly give them my business knowing what I know. Giving those two things up publicly allows me the opportunity to talk to people about that when it comes up, further educating the public about the reality of those industries. I am never preachy about it, I don’t expect others to have the same convictions I have, but that does happen occasionally, and I do believe change will happen someday. Even if I never see it in full by my hand.
Thanks for asking, Seb.