|
P.O.W. Goes Without Food
For 47 Days
Testimony
by
Michael Burkert
“He fasted throughout his
life taking the opportunity to pray and remember his wartime and post-war
experiences where food was simply not the most important thing in his
life.”
When I was a boy, my father had a friend who had served in the German Air
Force in World War II. He survived seven years as a POW in Russia. I
recall that he said that initially after his capture, he and his comrades
were fed some cabbage soup. Then for 47 days, they were fed nothing. He
survived this, marched 300 miles; then later during his captivity became a
Christian. Although the Soviets strictly prohibited all religious
activities in the camp, there was a German Baptist Chaplain in his hut.
They held clandestine services. The Chaplain told them of Jesus' 40 day
fast.
Later, when he had the opportunity to escape, he did so knowing that he
could easily walk for six weeks without food. His faith in the Almighty and
knowledge of his body's capability to fast, helped him to get back to his
home in Germany. No doubt he had Divine assistance as well, but the fasting
that was imposed on him by the cruel Red Army made a lifelong impression.
He died this year at age 87. He fasted throughout his life taking the
opportunity to pray and remember his wartime and post-war experiences where
food was simply not the most important thing in his life.
PS. Because of this man’s
story, I am too a faster.
Michael Burkert
Footnote
by
Ron Lagerquist
When I received this
remarkable short story I had to publish it. You would think that someone
who was forced to not eat for 47 days would never want to go without food
again. And yet something of great value must have happened, for him to
desire to revisit this experience by practicing fasting during the
remainder of his life. |
detoxification, healing, colon