The Trouble with trying to Fast

I set out, as I usually do in Lent, to fast from chocolate and alcohol but didn't even make it past Day One this time.

Trouble was, Ash Wednesday was also our Irish Chaplaincy Strategy Day and Ellena and Tara had come laden with goodies from M & S, including chocolate biscuits. I looked at those M & S biscuits as I made my morning cup of tea, and those biscuits looked back at me. I was simply helpless, and I mentioned to Paul, again, the famous saying of Oscar Wilde, 'The only thing I cannot resist is temptation.'

Gerry gave a very thoughtful reflection during the Mass that we began the day with. He used the lovely image of Lent being a time of spiritual spring-cleaning. He suggested as well that rather than focus on not doing things, we could consider doing things. Spending a bit more time each day in prayer, for example. 'I can manage that;' I thought to myself, 'much easier than trying to avoid chocolate biscuits.' Gerry also noted how good the Muslims are at fasting during the season of Ramadan. Yes, yes, I know, they go the whole day from dawn to dusk (and in the summer, to boot) without so much as a sip of water. I do occasionally look on a bit enviously at their example. I even once tried a two-day complete fast. It was when I was a student (and supposed to be revising for my finals) and a friend and I did the Cafod 48-hour fast which meant no food or water at all, so we even outdid the Muslims for those two days. Problem was, I felt, and surely looked, totally miserable and ended up just lying on the bed and dreaming about that first meal! I certainly didn't get a lot of studying done. Jesus is pretty clear in the gospels that we are not to look miserable when we fast! Taking those words to heart, I never again tried to do such a full-Monty fast.

Our Strategy Day was followed by a Board meeting and after that a meal. We went to a very lively pub and sat down to order drinks. I hesitated, to see what everyone else (good Catholics all; one of them even a priest!) would choose. They were all going for wine or beer. I thought, 'Well, when in Rome…' When it came to the food, I thought I could at least have fish and chips so as to avoid eating meat. Having said that, amongst the platter of delicious sandwiches for lunch there had been a BLT one (which I love) and, like with the chocolate biscuits, I just couldn't resist. I did have some non-meat sandwiches as well! At the pub in the evening we were informed that there was no fish and chips left, so it was meat or veggie…

I sent a message the following morning to those trustees to say how much their presence at the Strategy Day had been appreciated and also how much I had enjoyed the evening. I remarked, "What an Ash Wednesday; chicken burger and two glasses of wine!" One of the others replied, "I think that was the best Ash Wednesday I've ever had!" "Yes," I added, "that has set the standard for future Ash Wednesdays; I don't think I'll ever be able to fast again!"

Following that rather special Ash Wednesday I had the great fortune of a couple of nights at the monastery, where there was guaranteed to be no temptation in the form of chocolate or alcohol. Having said that, some years ago due to the dwindling number of monks they hired a cook to prepare their main, mid-day meal. She's really good and she seems to go to town especially on a Friday which is supposed to be their fasting day throughout the year. One time when I was there on a Friday, tucking into another feast prepared by Louise, I declared to the brothers, "I love the fasting meals here!" On this occasion, the main course on the Friday (yes, it's a two-course lunch!) was relatively frugal but it was followed up by a sponge cake from heaven. At least it didn't contain any chocolate or alcohol!As well as the warnings of Jesus to not look miserable when we fast, it seems clear to me from the gospels that for Jesus, people always mattered more than rules and he would willingly break the rules if the occasion required it. He is questioned in Matthew 12 by the Pharisees about allowing his disciples to pluck the heads of grain on the Sabbath (technically work and thus prohibited) when they were hungry. Jesus replies that even King David both ate and shared with his hungry friends the consecrated bread in the temple, which only the priest was permitted to eat.

I take heart as well that in ancient Irish culture a fast would always be broken to offer hospitality to a guest. And it was not simply a case of giving food and drink to the stranger; it was a case of eating and drinking with them. Likewise amongst the ultra-ascetic Desert Fathers and Mothers of fourth century Egypt, hospitality always trumped a fast and always involved eating and drinking with.

There were further temptations ahead. Three days after Ash Wednesday it was my birthday and our children had booked a Korean restaurant in London. I began the feast with some someak to remind myself of our holiday in Korea last summer when that drink had been all the rage. Soju is the strong, schnapps-like spirit which is ubiquitous on a Korean restaurant table. Maekju is beer. Somaek is the two of them in the same glass! Sláinte! Or Keonbae as they say in Korean.

Then, not far off, it will be St Patrick's week. This year it contains Yim Soon's birthday. It's a different date each year according to the lunar calendar but it always manages to fall within the season of Lent! And then it's the big day itself, March 17th, which this year is a Friday. I normally allow myself a glass of Guinness (which is completely within the Lenten rules if you're Irish; and Tommy Tiernan does a great stetch on this: 'The Irish knew they'd need a half-time!'), but this year, some of us from the cycling club are going to an Irish bar in Whitstable where the Guinness will be £3 a pint. Dublin-born Conor who lives in Whitstable has even set up a WhatsApp group for the event, called 'St Patrick and the cyclists'! It should be a good night..

At least I can go easy on the chocolate for a few weeks…