Quenching Our Thirst

Scripture: “…while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me.’” – John 7:37 NRSVUE

Last month, I was invited to lead a lesson at Club 45, a weekly gathering of 4th and 5th graders at Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church in Murrysville, PA.  Rain was on the forecast for the evening (fitting that our topic was water and hydration). I ended up with a room fuller than usual with young people.  Many of them have sports practices (which is why I picked hydration as our topic) that often meet at the same time as Club 45, but since it was raining, their practices were canceled.  This resulted in a very high energy evening, as many of them are used to burning off their energy at practice. I was left enthusiastic but exhausted! 

After a quick introduction, I started the lesson by asking the students the following questions:

• Do you think it would be a good idea to give small children, animals, or plants soda or a sports drink?  What would happen if we did? 
• What are the differences between the healthy watered plant and the unhealthy plant? (I included the image with this message).
• What do you think might happen to our bodies if we stopped drinking mostly water and drank soda, fruit drinks, and sports drinks instead? Or if we simply stopped drinking much at all? 

My reflection question for you – how would you respond? 

Water is what human beings, animals, and plants were designed to drink. Drinking water is what helps us stay healthy!  For example, water helps to regulate our body temperature and to moisten tissues in our eyes, nose, and mouth.¹  It protects our bodies, organs, and tissues; carries nutrients and oxygen to cells; lubricates our joints; and lessens the burden on our kidneys and liver by flushing out waste products, among other things!  Likewise, for plants, water is an essential nutrient and, in fact, comprises up to 95% of a plant’s tissue. Water is required for a seed to sprout, the carrying of nutrients throughout the plant, transpiration (which keeps the plant from overheating), and so much more!²

Drinks other than water often have added ingredients that get in the way of water’s ability to do what it’s supposed to do for us.  (Want some hydration tips?  Be sure to check out our health highlight section in this newsletter)!

 Sports drinks certainly have their place; as an active long distance runner, I use them on long runs. However, they are generally not necessary for exercise lasting less than an hour. For this level of exertion, water will suffice.  (For more information on how to utilize sports drinks appropriately, click here. For information specifically for children, click here).   

As for soda-coke-pop, consider reserving it for special occasions and instead quench your daily thirst with flavorful alternatives.  For example, if you haven’t tried fruit/vegetable/herb infused water, I encourage you to do so. Check out our recipe link for some ideas — the Club 45 youth gave the three samples we shared with them (orange/lemon/lime, tangerine/blueberry, and cucumber/lemon/mint) a huge thumbs up!  Also, if you’d like a healthier soda alternative, check out that recipe as well. That, too, received the youth’s approval!   

In addition to quenching your physical thirst this summer, I also want to encourage you to be attentive to hydrating yourself spiritually.   

If you’re anything like me, you tend to push yourself pretty hard through the fall-winter-spring seasons of life and you always look forward to the slower summer months, when you not only physically slow down (which makes it easier for you to care for your physical hydration needs) but also find it easier to carve out more time to spiritually hydrate yourself (through prayer, “sipping” on good spiritual books, enjoying time in God’s creation both by yourself and with others, etc.). 

Likewise, I challenge you to discover and practice new ways of making mind-body-soul hydration part of your daily routine this summer.  And, if you are willing, we’d love for you to share some of your spiritual thirst-quenching recipes with us! 

Peace,

Karen H. Webster

HSHC Co-founder/Executive Director

¹Allie Wergen, “Water: Essential for your body,” September 29, 2022, Mayo Clinic Health System, accessed at https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/water-essential-to-your-body.

² Jodi Richmond, “How Plants Use Water,” WV Extension, March 1, 2021, accessed at https://extension.wvu.edu/lawn-gardening-pests/news/2021/03/01/how-plants-use-water.

Radical Change Requires Radical Trust

Spring is in the air!  However, unlike any other year that I can recall, the destructive impact of the wind is hard to ignore: old-growth trees damaged in California, deadly tornadoes in the South and Midwest, and many flights delayed or canceled due to high winds, with those that are able to take off experiencing significant turbulence.  These examples (plus many others that are impacting our world) have been linked to climate change, a very real, intimidating, and anxiety-laden issue that is becoming increasingly hard to ignore.  

While it may be tempting to despair, I want to share with you a reflection I offered last month at a workshop that Karen and I held at Columbia Theological Seminary’s “Just Creation: Shalom for Our Common Home” national conference:   

Research published in 2016 suggests that, in some regions, anthropogenic¹ climate change due to Industrial-era activity began in the 1830s, which is earlier than previously thought.²  We know that scientists were already calculating the greenhouse effect in the 1890s and that concern about anthropogenic climate change increased throughout the latter half of the 20th century.³  This is not to say that the link was clear during this whole timespan; it was not until 1880 that formal weather monitoring stations were widespread enough to give a more accurate picture of global temperature trends.4   

It is incorrect to say that nobody saw this coming.  However, as we also know, there have been significant and sustained efforts from various people and entities to stop this climate science from translating into meaningful action (globally, nationally, and personally).  As a result, we find ourselves past the point where smaller, more incremental changes are reasonable.  Only radical change will do.

According to the IPCC’s (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report, “If, by 2030, we cut our carbon emissions in about half – and, by 2050, we don’t emit any more carbon emissions than the planet can absorb each year – scientists predict that we can avoid the worst threats of climate change.”5

While this kind of change can feel daunting and will require worldwide efforts – the more widespread implementation of green technologies and the development of new technologies (such as carbon capturing and fusion) – individual and community actions are also important.  

 If you are like me, it is easy to think that the problem is too big, or it is too late, for my action to be meaningful, or that the changes we need to make are more drastic than I want to make.  However, the Bible has many examples of God asking people and groups to make radical changes:

• Noah, who built a boat and gathered animals despite no evidence of a coming flood (Gen. 6:11-22).
• Abram and Sarai, who, despite any suggestion that they had ever heard of God, picked up and left Haran and went to Canaan when God told them to do so (Gen. 12:1-5a).
• Mary, who assented to the angel Gabriel’s request even though it perplexed her (Lk. 1:26-38).
• The disciples, who left behind their families and livelihoods when Jesus called them to follow him (Mk. 1:16-20, 2:13-14).
• Saul, whose conversion was so unexpected and abrupt that people didn’t trust it to be genuine (Acts 9:1-30).

These biblical characters didn’t see immediate and obvious results after making these changes; they often had to wait for quite a while to perceive the fruits of their change, if they ever saw them at all.  However, they trusted that their changes would make a difference far beyond their cognizance.  In other words, radical change requires radical trust.

This great cloud of witnesses, as the author of Hebrews calls them, who acted out of such radical trust, can be our inspiration as we consider the radical changes we ourselves are called to make as stewards of God’s creation.

The changes we need to make in our daily lives to address climate change require the faith that they will make a difference.  For example, when we are intentional about changing how we eat, particularly making more whole-foods, plant-based choices, this allows us to:

• Respond positively to the food systems that are responsible for 25% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.6
• And this can provide communities of faith the opportunity to explore and incorporate more biblical plant foods into their diets.  
  • Eating this way positively impacts our personal health and the health of the planet and it also connects us to our rich Christian heritage as people of faith.  
  • By eating biblical plant foods, we can simultaneously act to preserve our cultural heritage, while also helping to sustain the environment as a legacy for generations to come.

This, then, really isn’t that radical at all; it is actually rediscovering an interesting, enjoyable, and frequently overlooked part of our common heritage.

While what we learned at the conference was difficult, it also gave us both hope that we are not helpless in the face of climate change, which is a message we tried to communicate in our presentation.  The radical trust we are called to have may not be easy for us, but God is even more radically trustworthy.  This way, radical trust in a radically trustworthy God is what will help you, me, and our churches live in the faith that the changes we make today will create a better tomorrow.  

Peace,

Travis Webster

HSHC Co-founder

¹ “Scientists use the word “anthropogenic” in referring to environmental change caused or influenced by people, either directly or indirectly.” https://www.usgs.gov/news/earthword-anthropogenic.

² Abram, N., McGregor, H., Tierney, J. et al., “Early onset of industrial-era warming across the oceans and continents,” Nature 536, 411–418 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature19082.

³ Abram, McGregor, and Tierney, “Early onset of industrial-era warming across the oceans and continents,” Nature 536, 411–418.

4 Abram, McGregor, and Tierney, “Early onset of industrial-era warming across the oceans and continents,” Nature 536, 411–418.

5 MIT Climate Portal, “What Can Be Done About Climate Change?”, https://climate.mit.edu/what-can-be-done-about-climate-change, viewed March 10, 2023. Summarized from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report, Global Warming of 1.5°C (https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/).

6 Hannah Ritchie, “Food production is responsible for one-quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions,” Our World in Data, November 6, 2019, https://ourworldindata.org/food-ghg-emissions.

Winter Rest

“Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.” Psalm 116:7

For many people, this time of year is challenging, especially for those who live in northern, colder climates (like where we live in Western Pennsylvania).  The days are short, and the nights are long.  Gray clouds often mute even the brightest day, creating a heaviness that can weigh on people. (For resources on treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), click here).

Yet, something about winter’s lack of light energizes me.  Some of my energy may stem from setting New Year’s resolutions for myself (even though theologically I know that we are born anew every day).  But this does not fully explain my experience last winter when creative energy burst out of sitting in the lack of light. 

After a busy season of planting and harvesting in our backyard garden, I sat in our living room early one morning.  The room was not lit; there was only a faint glow of the winter moonlight coming through the window, causing my focus to narrow to the space right in front of me.  As I quietly sat there, my imagination wandered.  Where?  Of course, to one of my favorite things—plants!  I thought that like humans, plants also need time without light to grow.  As I sat with the lack of light, day after wintery day, I delved into the interconnectedness of people and plants, and in the process discovered a source for my revitalized energy.  This led to me writing a piece last summer entitled “From the Ground Up: Digging Deeper into our Body-Garden Connection” as a guest blogger for Columbia Theological Seminary.  So that we can dig into the richness of this interconnectedness more deeply, I chose the “People-Plant Connection” as the theme for HSHC’s 2023 newsletters.

Here are several People-Plant Connections to start off this new year:

• Sunlight is a key triggering element for humans that lets us know when to sleep and when to wake.  The same is true of plants.  “Just like humans who work during the day and get their shut-eye at night, plants also work on the cycle of the Sun, and are known to have genes that switch on and off in what is known as a circadian rhythm” [1].  
• During the night, both plants and people rest, which promotes growth.  “Sleep allows the brain and body to slow down and engage in processes of recovery, promoting better physical and mental performance the next day and over the long-term” [2].  “When the sun goes down, the plant’s focus shifts [from absorbing energy from the sun through the process of photosynthesis] to delivering glucose throughout the plant;” giving it energy to grow [3].
• Healing happens while plants and people sleep.  “During deep sleep, your body works to repair muscle, organs, and other cells.  Chemicals that strengthen your immune system start to circulate in your blood” [4].  Likewise, “trees often relax and let their branches droop when the sun goes down” [5].  

This brings me back to the theme of this newsletter and how an unlit space during an overcast season helped me discover my energy.  I learned three seasonal rhythms that hold true for me:

•     More rest – Longer nights make it easier for me to get more sleep.
•     Less activity – Less gardening not only provides rest for my body but also gives me more time to focus my mental energy on other things.

•     Less light to illuminate other objects, creates more space for me to grow in my relationship with God.

As we continue to move into this new year, I want to encourage you to consider: what does more sleep, slowing down, and creating more space to grow in God look like for you? What rhythms of winter do you embody?  

Peace,

Karen H. Webster

HSHC Co-founder/Executive Director

If you would like to learn more about what plants are doing at night, here is a quick and insightful overview:

1:30-minute video clip, “Do Plants Sleep?” 

¹ https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/do-plants-and-trees-sleep.html

² https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/what-happens-when-you-sleep

³ https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/do-plants-and-trees-sleep.html

4 https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/ss/slideshow-sleep-body-effects

5 https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/do-plants-and-trees-sleep.html

How Are We Being Called To Fill Our Plates This Holiday Season (And Beyond)?

This past summer, my brother lent me a book that he thought I would enjoy titled Slow Church.*  It came out in 2014, so it has been around awhile, and some of you may have already read it.  Upon reading the first few pages, I not only immediately resonated with the authors, but found myself wanting to speed through reading a book that was focused on slowing down!*

The premise of Slow Church is to challenge communities of faith to “ask ourselves tough questions about the ground our faith communities has ceded to the cult of speed,” to invite us to consider the consequences of these actions (such as a decrease in meaningful connections), and to ask us to “rethink the ways in which we share life together in our church communities.”

Slow Church, as well as several other “Slow Movements” (ex. slow schools, towns, lives, etc.), were inspired by the language and philosophy of the Slow Food Movement, which “is a global, grassroots organization, founded in 1989 to prevent the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions, counteract the rise of fast life and combat people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from and how our food choices affect the world around us.”

In a nutshell, what these “slow movements” have in common is their emphasis on the importance of meaningful relationships within the contexts of our churches, communities, the food we eat, Creation, and with God.

We are about to enter the holiday season, a time when many things seem, figuratively and literally, to stack up on our plates – preparing for the arrival of guests, endlessly long to-do lists, countless rich foods, etc.  This is when many people find themselves just trying to hold on the best they can and/or “ingesting” what is put in front of them until they make it into the new year… where they then hope to regroup!  We want to encourage you, as these “slow movements” suggest, to slow down.  Hopefully, this practice will help you to have a healthier/more sustainable pace through the holiday season, which will allow you to be more intentional about what you are putting on your plate (again, figuratively and literally) as well as afford you the opportunity to spend more time on the important relationships in your life.

Here are several reflections for your consideration:

• Before putting something on your plate (figuratively and/or literally), think about how it may make you feel later.  Is it going to be nourishing?  Energizing?  Joy-filled?  Or, is it going to make you feel sluggish and/or weighed down?
• How sustainable (physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, environmentally, etc.) are the items you are putting on your plate?  Are there healthier alternatives you could choose instead?  For some examples, check out:
  • Tips for Maintaining Healthy Habits During the Holidays
  • 12 Ways to Have an Eco Friendly Holiday
• Consider participating in an Advent Fast (some resources for this are provided in this edition of our newsletter).
  • This spiritual practice is not only a part of the Christian tradition (although it is often overlooked), but it is also a wonderful opportunity to slow down and consider what one is putting on their plate in preparation for the coming of Christ and in anticipation of the new year.

May all be well with you this holiday season and into the new year!

Karen H. Webster

HSHC Co-founder/Executive Director

“You must understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger,” (James 1:19)… and slow with what we put on our plates.

*While I liked the overall premise of the book, there are some aspects of it that aren’t feasible for many communities of faith (example – they strongly emphasize the importance of “local” – attending a congregation close to our homes and shopping and working as locally as possible.  These are all great ideals, but not realistic for a lot of people).  As one reviewer wrote, and I agree, the greatest strength of this book is to use it in a small-group setting, where the ideas mentioned in the book can help to generate new possibilities that are fitting for the congregational context.

100+ Years of Wisdom

When Travis’ maternal grandmother turned 90, his family decided to establish a call schedule so that different family members could check in with her each morning and evening.  Since she was still living at home, this gave everyone the opportunity to make sure she was okay and see if she needed anything.  At the time, I volunteered to take one of the time slots because I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to get to know her better.

Fast forward 12 years… I’m still calling Granny (what she told me to call her) every Monday morning!  Yes, it is truly amazing: at the end of August, she turned 102 and still lives at home!

During our conversations over the past dozen years, we have covered a lot of ground together (both literally and figuratively, as I have called her not only from the three different states in which I have lived during that time, but also while traveling both domestically and internationally).  We talk about everything: the weather, what we did over the past weekend, and our plans for the upcoming week, as well as what we’ve recently read or learned.

Several weeks ago, she asked how our backyard garden was coming along.  I gave her a brief update about what we were harvesting (tons of tomatoes and raspberries!) and I also shared how busy it was in the garden, with all of the birds (one of her favorite subjects!), butterflies, and bees bustling about.

Upon hearing this, she paused for a moment and then said, “You know, Karen, there is a tremendous amount of life happening outside, all around us, that I think a lot of people are missing,” followed by the question she often asks me after making a statement: “What do you think?” 

“Granny, I couldn’t agree with you more!”

Our conversation continued as she shared a brief account of some of what she had already  observed outside her sunroom in the few hours she had been awake that morning – the variety of birds that had visited her birdfeeders, the number of squirrels fussing with one another, the people who had walked, run, or biked by her house (many of whom wave to her each day as they pass), the color of the morning sky… outside is, indeed, full of life!

As many of you know, during the month of September, HSHC is holding our 4th annual Miles For Ministry challenge and annual fundraiser.  This year, we picked the theme “Move Out” precisely for the reason that Granny mentioned: there is a tremendous amount of life happening outside, which is easy to overlook if we aren’t paying attention.  

The consequences?  Not only do we miss out on the many personal health benefits of being outside, but we also fail to see the daily reminders of how totally interconnected the wellbeing of all Creation is.  Out of sight, out of mind!

If you have not yet registered for our “Move Out” challenge this month, it is not too late!  You can still make a commitment to yourself (and to God) to spend more time outside during the rest of this month (and, hopefully, in the months to come!) by participating in activities that not only bring you joy, but also promote greater awareness and appreciation for the abundance of life that surrounds us all.  

As you know, your support, in the form of prayers, encouragement, financial contributions, and letting others know about HSHC, helps us continue “Moving Out” into our vocation of improving the health of seminarians, congregations, communities, and the Creation.  Please click here if you would like to make a gift towards these efforts.  

We look forward to seeing you outside!

May all be well,

Karen H. Webster

HSHC Co-founder/Executive Director

“Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.” – Proverbs 23:12 (ESV)

A Good Argument

Travis and I will never forget the June night back in 2012 when we went for a walk in Winnona Park (the neighborhood around Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA).  We were there because I was participating in two of my first Doctor of Ministry classes and Travis decided to take some study leave and join me on campus, since he was completely immersed in full-time ministry and felt that this would be an excellent opportunity to rest and reflect. 

What started out as a normal conversation while walking quickly became heated, just like the night air (good ol’ summertime in the South!).  

“So, Karen, I think I finally do want to apply for the Th.D. in Pastoral Counseling program here.”  

This was something that Travis had been talking about since the day we graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary (Princeton, NJ) with our M.Div. degrees in 2004 (Karen’s recollection), so this wasn’t a shock.  The difference was that, this time I, Karen, realized he really meant it.

“Ok, so if we move here to Decatur, what am I supposed to do?  I want somehow to use the gifts that God has given me – a degree in exercise physiology, ordination as a Presbyterian pastor, certification as a Master Gardener in South Carolina, a love for both cooking and working with people of all ages, and a passion about wanting to improve the health and wellbeing of clergy because, from everything I have read and observed, they are struggling with their health, which not only impacts them personally, but also those whom they serve.  Tell me, what kind of job would allow me to do all of that?”  I was completely exasperated; if I were a cartoon character, I would have had steam rising off my head!

The conversation abruptly ended there that night, and we went to bed without any resolution.

When we woke up the next morning, Travis said, “Karen, I think I’ve figured out what we can do.  It will be a lot of work, but I know we can do it…”  

Travis shared his vision and, without even the slightest bit of hesitation, I knew that this was exactly what we were supposed to do.  Never mind that we had zero experience starting a non-profit, zero experience in managing a “business,” zero organizations to look to as templates for the kind of ministry we were seeking to establish (to this day, as far as we know, we are the only organization that is seeking to improve the wellbeing of seminarians so that they can be healthier clergy, which will help to bring about greater health in our communities of faith and beyond!).  On top of all this, when we shared our ideas with several people we trusted, they said that we were going to face HUGE challenges, so we definitely were going to have our work cut out for us.  And, if that weren’t enough of a challenge, we felt called to do this at the same time Travis was beginning to apply for the doctoral program!  

Fast forward 10 years… the work that we have undertaken has been anything but easy.  There are days when we feel like we are taking two steps forward and then two steps backward, sometimes almost instantaneously.  However, seeing the difference that we have made in the lives of seminarians, clergy, and church members makes it all worth it!  Plus, it is because of the support and encouragement we have received from people like you that we have been able to learn, grow, and expand our ministry day by day, relationship by relationship.

Speaking of encouragement, when I (Karen) was sorting through some of my old emails as I was preparing the timeline for this newsletter, I came across some of the initial email correspondence we had with Steve Hayner, who was president of Columbia Theological Seminary the year HSHC was born.  Here is an excerpt from what he wrote: 

“It was both encouraging and exciting to read your report [which we submitted to him on 10/24/12] and to engage again with your vision.  Helping to set seminarians on a physically healthy trajectory is as important as working with them intellectually, spiritually, and relationally… Again, Karen, let me commend you on your amazing vision and initiative.  You’ve spotted a very real need and moved to meet it.  We talk a lot around here about vision, values, and vocation—and about imagination and resilience. You are illustrating all of these traits.” 

From the very first day we shared our vision with President Hayner, he was extremely supportive of our work and was also a real source of inspiration.  When he was very sadly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, news that devastated those both inside and beyond the seminary community, one of the things he made sure he accomplished before stepping down due to illness was to provide our organization with an on-campus mailbox and office space.  We will never forget his generosity in providing us not only a physical space to meet with those in the Columbia Theological Seminary community, but also giving us what we needed to establish ourselves as a 501(c)(3) organization.

Again, looking back at that June night, who knew ten years later both that this is where God would lead us and also that God would put so many supportive people on our path to guide and encourage us along the way?  We eagerly wait to see what God has in store for us in the days, months, and years to come.  Now, as much as ever, healthy seminarians + healthy churches = a healthier world!

May All Be Well,

Karen and Travis Webster

HSHC Co-founders

Click below to view our interactive timeline. Each underlined section links to a publication or story from our last decade!

Actively Working Towards Becoming MORE Contagious!

When you see or hear the word “contagious,” what comes to mind?  COVID?  Masks? Other forms of infectious diseases or illnesses?  Something unpleasant?  Death?  Given what we’ve been through over the past two years, it is quite understandable to have these kinds of thoughts.  

However, it is also important to remember that some things that are “contagious” are positive and are, thus, good for our health when they spread.  These include (but are not limited to!) a smile, laughter, words of gratitude, and/or other forms of compassion.

At its root, to be contagious means that an influence, quality, or nature has the ability to spread rapidly through verbal and/or physical contact with those around us.  Again, this can work for good or for bad.

As some of you know, the very reason we exist as an organization is to promote positive contagion, particularly when it comes to spreading healthy lifestyle practices among seminaries and communities of faith.  Our primary goal is to bring about greater health and wellbeing among seminarians (many of whom are future clergy) so that they can ultimately be partners with us in spreading healthy habits – not only in the settings to which God has called them, but also in our communities and throughout the world!

However, one of the themes that came up in Travis’ dissertation research, which focused on identifying what contributes to the health and unhealth of those preparing for a vocation in ministry (the results of which were generally consistent with Karen’s doctoral research project, also conducted among seminarians six years ago), is that when it comes to talking about health, the Church is pretty much silent.

In fact, it turns out that, among the seminarians who were interviewed by Travis in fall 2020 and spring 2021, “five of the [thirteen] interview participants said they had never heard health discussed in church, either theologically or practically, and of the eight who had, it was generally limited to a particular aspect of health, usually spiritual health.  Furthermore, several interviewees indicated they had heard health talked about in church only because of the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning that, only two years ago, the number of interviewees who had never heard health come up in church would have been higher.  What an unfortunate statement about the importance of health in church that it has taken a global pandemic to bring the subject to the forefront in some congregations!”

We think there is no better time than now – in this season where we celebrate the good news of Jesus Christ’s resurrection and the new life that is given to all, to work towards changing this reality, and we would like your help!  

As we continue to empower seminary students, we  want to challenge you to help break the silence about health in our communities of faith.  When we work together, we can make a real difference in our own lives as well as in the world around us.

Peace,

Karen and Travis Webster

HSHC Co-founders

Don’t know where to start?  Check out our 3 Ways to Spread Good Health in Our Communities of Faith post for ideas and next steps.

Fasting has definitely become a buzzword over the last several years (social media, books, casual conversations, and beyond) and is something that I started gaining an interest in over 10 years ago while I was participating in a spiritual formation program offered jointly through Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary.  While the current fasting trend is primarily focused on the physical effects of fasting, fasting for one’s overall health has been around for centuries.  Since we just finished the Advent and Christmas season, which has traditionally been a season of fasting followed by feasting, and will shortly be entering Lent, also a time of fasting followed by feasting, I thought that this would be an appropriate time to share a few fasting facts to chew on.

• Fasting is commonly understood to mean depriving oneself of food (avoiding certains foods and/or refraining from foods for certain amounts of time) for physical, spiritual, religious, political, and/or other reasons.

• • The origins of the word “fasting” comes from the French word jeûne, which comes from the Latin verb jejunare, meaning abstinence, not eating as an act of penitence.  
  • Non-food forms of fasting (from social media, shopping, gossiping, etc.) are not technically considered ‘fasting,’ since they don’t involve food. However, these practices of “abstention” (the act or practice of choosing not to do or have something) still provide many of the benefits that one gets from doing a ‘fast.’

• Fasting is one of the oldest health remedies in history and has been a part of the practice of virtually every culture on earth.  It is not just a current weight-loss fad! 
• • The Ancient Greeks thought that fasting led to healing from illnesses and brought about mental clarity.  They used fasting to prepare athletes’ bodies for the physical training they were going to endure as they prepared for the Olympic Games.  
  • Fasting has been a part of most every major religion.  Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism all incorporate fasting into their practices.  A significant exception is Zoroastrianism, which forbids fasting.

• Fasting provides the space to become spiritually nourished.  When we empty ourselves of that which distracts us from God (food, consumerism, our busyness, and more), we are better able to experience God’s deep, abiding presence.  This enriches our prayer lives and informs how we engage in the world around us.  

• Fasting promotes physical restoration in part because one’s body isn’t constantly digesting food.  This can lead to many wonderful overall health benefits, such as improvements to glucose regulation, cognitive function, metabolism, and overall heart function, while also reducing inflammation, the effects of aging, and more. 

Through the spiritual and physical act of fasting, our lives can be filled in amazing ways!

While I don’t have space here to discuss how fasting fell out of practice among Christians, which I find to be a fascinating topic in and of itself, fasting has virtually disappeared from our modern life (secularly and religiously) for a variety of reasons.  I think this is a shame because, at least for me, the discipline of fasting has greatly enriched my life in ways I would never have anticipated.  

In this season of new beginnings, and with Lent coming soon, I want to encourage you to consider participating in some sort of fast and/or abstinence practice.  I am certainly looking forward to doing so, myself!

Reflection Questions

• What is your attitude toward fasting or self-denial (or, put differently, restraining or limiting one’s own desires or interests, not acting on impulse, postponing gratification)?
• When has self-denial brought you something good?
• Have you fasted?  If you have, what was the experience like? 
• If you have not, what has kept you from doing so?
• Is God calling you to participate in some sort of fast (food, material goods, etc.) now and/or during Lent?

Peace,

Karen H. Webster

HSHC Co-founder/Executive Director

“Behind every fitting choice of abstinence lies the question, what do I do to excess? What I do to excess reveals my inordinate desires, my compulsions, the attachments that have control over me. They are precisely the areas of my life that need the freeing lordship of Christ rather than my own abysmally ineffective efforts of control. Fasting is not primarily a discipline through which I gain greater control over my life, but one through which God gains access to redirect and heal me in body, mind, and spirit.” 

Marjorie J. Thompson, Soul Feast 

Want to Learn More?  Here are a few resources you may find to be helpful:

The Spiritual Disciple of Fasting

• Spiritual Fasting: A Practice of Mind, Body, & Spirit https://www.healthyhildegard.com/spiritual-fasting/
  • I like what this article says about the spiritual discipline of fasting.  However, I am not promoting and/or endorsing their healing remedies or products.
• The Most Neglected Spiritual Discipline https://www.relevantmagazine.com/faith/most-neglected-spiritual-discipline/
• Helping Kids Understand the Spiritual Discipline of Fasting https://deeperkidmin.com/helping-kids-understand-the-spiritual-discipline-of-fasting/
• Fasting and Social Justice https://www.jeannettedebeauvoir.com/blog/fasting

Fasting and Physical Health 

• 8 Health Benefits of Fasting https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fasting-benefits

• Intermittent Fasting Explained https://health.clevelandclinic.org/intermittent-fasting-4-different-types-explained/
• NutritionFacts.org https://nutritionfacts.org
• This website provides many insightful videos on a variety of health topics (including fasting).
• Fasting For Weight Loss Infograph https://nutritionfacts.org/2021/07/08/fasting-for-weight-loss-infographic/
  • This infograph “compares the advantages and disadvantages of some of the different types of fasting based on the latest evidence and provides some important cautions and notes to consider before deciding to start.”

Christian-Oriented Books That Discuss Fasting

• Bass, Dorothy C. Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People (Mar. 1, 2019).
• Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us (Nov. 19, 2015).
• Foster, Richard. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth (2018).
• Richards, Jay W. Eat, Fast, Feast: Heal Your Body While Feeding Your Soul – A Christian Guide to Fasting (Jan. 7, 2020).

• Note: I like what the author writes about the spiritual/biblical/historical aspects of fasting.  However, the author does promote following a Ketogenic diet, which may be helpful for some individuals, but not everyone.  Please check with your healthcare provider if you are interested in pursuing the nutritional plan he suggests.

Thompson, Marjorie J. Soul Feast, Newly Revised Edition: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life (Sept. 26, 2014).

¹ Please note: while I enjoy talking about this subject, I am not an expert in this field.  Therefore, please speak with your healthcare provider before engaging in any form of food fasting, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.

² https://www.alimentarium.org/en/knowledge/voluntary-fasting

³ https://www.alimentarium.org/en/knowledge/voluntary-fasting

⁴ https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fasting-benefits In addition, there is increasing scientific and clinical evidence suggesting that fasting may be a way of addressing a number of health challenges, such as obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, certain auto-immune diseases, cancer, and more.  Check out some of the articles listed in the resource section for more information.

Photo by Rachael Gorjestani on Unsplash

It is hard to believe that in a little over two weeks it will be Thanksgiving, which officially kicks off the traditional franticness of the holiday season, and before we know it Christmas presents will have been unwrapped and the ringing in of the new year completed. While there are many aspects of the holiday season that are joyful and are fun to anticipate, it is also important to acknowledge that we are also entering into our second COVID impacted holiday season. A time where we will be combining the “normal” stress of the holiday season plus dealing with the chronic stress of dealing with COVID, which has caused: increased anxiety, depression, fatigue, restless sleep, stress eating, decreased physical activity, and more.

One the one hand, this may look like the perfect storm for our overall health and wellbeing. On the other hand, if we take a few minutes now and commit ourselves to doing several small (and manageable!) caring-for-self practices throughout the holiday season (click here for some tips and ideas), not only will we feel much better in the midst of the stressful season, but we will also be able to enjoy the celebration of Christ’s birth and excitement of the new year more fully!

In addition, due to the chronic stress that many of us have and will be facing, we hope you will check out some of the other stress-oriented articles, resources, as well as the information about our new 6-week “Restore and Renew: Strategies for Stress” program (starting in mid January) found in this stress edition of our newsletter.

Peace,

Karen and Travis Webster

HSHC Co-founders

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 

Isaiah 41:1-10