At the outset of the spiritual disciplines class I just completed, our instructor asked us to commit to a bodily discipline for the entirety of the eight-week class. We could choose to practice some form of regular exercise, give up a certain food item, or even practice certain habits of rest — something that would engage our bodies in some specific way for eight weeks.

For my bodily discipline, I chose to conduct an eight-week Pepsi fast. Since Pepsi is the only soda I drink, this basically means that I gave up soda for eight weeks straight.

I chose this fast because it had become increasingly clear in the weeks before starting this class that I had an unhealthy dependence on Pepsi. Every time I went to the grocery store, I would pick up two or three 2-liter bottles of Pepsi, and they would all be gone within 5 days. I would drink Pepsi with meals, and I would drink it with snacks. I would drink it while sitting at my desk working on the computer, which is literally how I spend most of my days. I had become addicted to the taste, as well as to the comfort and familiarity of routine it provided me. So I decided to abstain for eight weeks and see what happened.

This past week, I practiced a partial media fast for my course on the spiritual disciplines. This means that instead of checking my e-mail, blog feedreader, or Facebook account after I woke up each morning, I refrained from accessing the internet until 12:00 noon. 

I have practiced fasting on occasion in the past, usually when I am seeking wisdom about a particular decision. These have been food fasts for a certain period of hours or number of meals. And once, in my senior year of college, I gave up Dr. Pepper for seven months because I could no longer ignore that it was a mindless addiction.

But in each of these instances, I can’t say I used those opportunities to truly be with God.