“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 too am a faster.
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.
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