Lots of us have done a bit of fasting over the years. We may fast from food for one reason or another. Sometimes we fast for health reasons; i.e. we must fast gluten or other foods we are allergic to. At times we go on juice fasts where we spend one day a week drinking juice in order to clean out our bodies. There are a lot of health benefits that have been documented relating to fasting and many of us have tried a lot of them.
We also fast for spiritual reasons. We want to pray and spend more time focused on God than on our physical needs, so we may fast a meal or two. Other times we may fast one day a week. Sometimes we fast several days at a time in order to try to get God’s attention on a matter. We may also fast based on a spiritual calendar in order to fulfill the requirements of our religious beliefs.
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All well and good, but have you ever considered a News Fast? For the past several weeks it has been excruciating to watch the news. Children are suffering, families are separated and politicians are vying for the camera in order to give us their opinion on the problems. Add to that the natural disasters that have occurred, i.e, volcanoes erupting, floods, forest fires and severe storms dropping hail the size of baseballs on people, just to name a few. After a while, any person who has an ounce of sensitivity in their souls can get Compassion Fatigue. We turn on the television and all we see are hurting people and there isn’t much we can do about it. By the time the nightly news is over, we have watched hundreds if not thousands of people deal with some very difficult situations.
After our thirty minute exposure to the news, we want to be able to focus our minds on something different, but who can? After all, we have just seen tremendous suffering played out in front of our eyes. Many times, we have heard from those suffering in first-person accounts. We cannot easily forget or ignore what they have been going through.
What can we do when we are confronted with all of the suffering? We can give to a charity that is working with victims of whatever crisis we are watching. We can write or call our congressmen if there is something they can do about a particular problem. And of course, we can pray for those in need. That said though, sometimes we just need to take a break from it all.
When everything gets a bit much for me, I go on a News Fast. I turn off the nightly news and I give myself a few days to recover from all of the suffering I have witnessed. It is the equivalent of taking a few mental health days and I find it’s essential for my state of mind. I may totally unplug and not turn on any kind of technology for a while. It is certainly peaceful and refreshing for me and I find it is necessary to maintain a positive mental attitude.
For centuries, people only knew about what was happening in their particular community. Every now and then, they would get news about what was happening further out from the radius of their communities, but there was no way they could hear about all of the bad news that was happening around the globe. I don’t believe we were created with the capacity to cope with the kinds of trauma we are subjected to night after night on the news without needing a break from it from time to time.
We need to learn to be kind to ourselves and give ours minds and hearts a break from all of the suffering and spend time focusing on more positive things. There are lots of ways to do this and each one of us knows what works for us to help us destress, unwind and rejuvenate. Whatever it takes, it is important to take care of ourselves so that we can function in a positive way in this problem-laden world we live in. Food Fast…Juice Fast…News Fast? I’ll definitely take the News Fast, thank you!
Valerie Cullers 
Thank you so much for your writing today. I really needed that! I lived on a sailboat for five years, and we only learned about what was happening occasionally if we went into a store that had a television turned on. My life was much more tranquil then, and I long for that sort of peace. I think a fast today is just what I need. Thank you Valerie.
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Life on a sailboat…Wow!! How great was that? We need to give ourselves permission to unplug, we were not created to handle all the woes of the world. That is God’s job, not ours! I need one too! It’s been hard to deal with everything on the news lately. Glad it touched a nerve. Thank you for your comment!
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Mostly, I fast from the news. And I’m a former journalist… ha! It’s good to take a break because so much of “news” focuses on the negative things that happen in this world. With a 24 hour accessibility to news, we can end up dwelling on those things which do not fit the perimeters described by Philippians 4:8. Thank you for this reminder and encouragement to step away at times for time with God and to rest in Him! ❤
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You’re welcome! It’s good to know I am not the only one that needs to fast from the news!
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This is great! For Lent every year I turn off everything that isn’t feeding my spirit positively. That isn’t to say I don’t pray for those who are suffering, or turn my back on anyone in prayer. I just agree that listening to what we can’t control doesn’t grow hope. I haven’t gotten to the point that after Easter, I don’t feel the need to turn it back on again. I just keep a flow of incoming positive things that feed my spirit, or sit in the classroom of silence (Matthew Kelly).
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Wonderful idea! I don’t know if I could go forty days without the news, but it is a thought! Thanks for the input and the idea!
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Fasting from the news is a spiritual necessity for me.
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Yes, for us also at our home. My husband is particularly sensitive to all the negativity and infighting of the political parties!
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We no longer get the newspaper at home, nor turn on the television for news. I have been forbidden to read the local smutty Indian weekly edition. My kids are adamant that I do not know how to adequately switch off. I am privy to WhatsApp groups which allow me the allotted dosage of news and horror flashes. I absolutely agree with you on this News Fast AND Compassion Fatigue. What I find absolutely horrifying is that the youth whilst they need to be aware of the happenings, horrid or not, are de-sensitised. Violence and blood is a matter of fact and a common sight for them. I grew up in a much better period, thankfully.
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Yes, me too…I grew up in a different era. Our children are desensitized, but perhaps they must be in order to live in their world. I do appreciate the fact that we are able to pray for others in their distress, such as the boys in the cave in Thailand. The whole world is praying for them. It does unite us in a good cause. Thank you for your comments!
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I just hate that blood on the media posts, no dignity for the sick and dead.
Yes, its their world now, except that I hope (and pray) that they kinder and respectful to themselves and their world.
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I agree!!!
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I take news fasts all of the time! All that is on it anymore is bad things. I even cancelled the newspaper.
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Yes, we did too. We live in a chaotic world. I find my peace in Jesus. No matter what is going on, I know that He has us in His hands!
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As usual, thank you for the great post for Juice Fast Retreats.
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Your advice is still so relevant, Valerie. I take many news fasts, or try to watch more news about good and kind things being done. They are a reminder that humanity is not completely depraved. I love Steve Hartman’s weekly “On the Road” reports on the CBC Friday Evening News, they always make me cry.
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Me, too! I love those segments also. We all need a different perspective in order to cope with all the negative news!
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I agree, Valerie.
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