Time Change
It has become a normal part of life twice per year for the clock to change between Daylight Savings and Standard Time. Suddenly it is dark when it was light and light when it was dark. We eventually get accustomed to the time change, but not without it first affecting our bodies. The same is true with our spiritual time changes.
Today is the Feast of Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker. If you have been Orthodox for any length of time you know today is the last day to eat fish before Christmas. It is also the last day that weddings are allowed in the Church before Christmas. The Nativity Fast, known as a ‘White Fast’ through the Feast of Spyridon, changes. It is still not as strict as the Great Fast, but starting tomorrow through Christmas, we ‘turn it up a notch’ with our fasting.
Like the time changes of the clock, the time changes of the fast will affect our bodies, but we will get used to it. The clocks change so our society can be more economically productive. The fast changes so we can be more spiritually productive.
To be more spiritually productive the Church asks us to increase our fasting. When our bodies take notice, our minds and hearts take notice. When your stomach grumbles from hunger, say a prayer that God help you remember the hunger is so your soul can focus more on God.
It won’t be easy since we live in a society obsessed with holiday parties, but the more we can focus our attention on God, the more productive we will be. Think of it this way. When the clock changes and you are waking up in the dark, your extra effort to get out of bed pays off at work. In the same way, the extra effort with menu planning and ‘party avoiding’ will pay off in heaven.
It isn’t that you are forbidden to attend holiday gatherings. Meet with your spiritual father and get some of his advice. Maybe you can eat before you go to avoid having to skip fasting. Maybe you can plan to stay only a short time to avoid losing focus. There are ways to engage in our society without giving up our Orthodox way of life.
One thing is for sure. If you don’t try, you will never succeed.
