Pray Eat Love & The "Daniel" Fast

Last Sunday I visited Empowerment Temple church in Baltimore.  During the service I learned that the congregation was preparing for a ten-day journey of prayer, fasting and spiritual enlightenment inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir, "Eat, Pray, Love." 

I loved the idea of embarking on such a journey with the entire congregation and welcomed the idea of growing spiritually while improving my health. We were instructed to read Daniel (chapters 1-3), to participate in daily prayer calls with the Pastor and to abstain from eating meat, bread and sweets for ten days.  I remember thinking, "cool, not eating meat is no big deal for me and I'll even cut out caffeine."

I am now on day seven of the ten-day fast and will admit this is one of the hardest things I've ever done. I can be extremely focused and disciplined when I need to be and although I have not touched one drop of meat, bread or sugar since last Sunday, I am climbing the walls! I dream of buffet tables laden with rotisserie chickens, broiled salmon, freshly baked breads, CHEESECAKE and huge urns filled with piping hot COFFEE!!! I am literally counting down the days and have already started planning my first meal after the fast.  

The good news is that during this fast I have gained clarity on several issues I was struggling with, I've notice a huge difference in my energy levels and I believe I've lost a couple of pounds.  I will continue to be faithful on this journey...just four more days to go.  I feel so good that I've decided to continue the fast with a friend for the next couple of months or so.  We won't fast for ten days in a row but we have committed to fasting for three days in a row every week.  NO MEAT, BREAD, SWEETS OR CAFFEINE.

We're starting our three day fast on Tuesday, October 5th--Tues, Wed & Thurs.  We will repeat this sequence every week for the next few weeks and YOU are invited to join us!  This invitation is for the fast only--without the prayers because that's something personal you can do on your own but if you want to offer a prayer or two I'm open to that as I always welcome a good prayer.  :>)  If you want in, leave a comment to this post with your email address.  I'll keep in touch with you via email for support and accountability. Worst-case scenario: you'll lose a little weight, increase your energy and improve your health through discipline and fellowship.  Let's GO!

Family Dietary Preferences

My husband and I are polar opposites--in EVERY sense of the word (except we both love to cook).  The differences between us are palpable, albeit usually pretty funny, but meal time can be downright challenging. 

Things were going along quite smoothly until a few years ago when I decided to become health conscious.  He'd been doing all of the grocery shopping and most of the cooking--an arrangement that suited me just fine (he's an ex-chef and has mad skills in the kitchen) until I noticed we were eating red meat more often than I wanted to.  I tried requesting healthier foods and if he remembered, he would oblige me but he didn't always remember.  Consequently, I ended up making a grocery runs to get the items I wanted.  These days we buy separate groceries and cook separately. Truth be told, we enjoy our new arrangement because it allows us more freedom of choice and reduces meal frustration.

Anyway, dh recently had a "coronary episode" and now he, too, has started watching how he prepares his meals and what he eats.  I'm really sorry about the turn of events but I'm ecstatic that he is being more health conscious.  The blessings of this recent occurrence are that he survived, he's on the mend and I could get really lucky and not have to spend too much of my own money on groceries anymore.  Just so you know, that last comment came from my slightly evil twin :>).

Do you have different dietary preferences from your mate, spouse or children?  Perhaps you're a vegan, your spouse a strict carnivore and your kids won't go near anything green.  Who primarily does the shopping and cooking and how have the differences manifested themselves in your relationship/lifestyle?