In a previous opinion piece, “A citizen symphony for saving the Great Salt Lake,” I argued that in spite of its present state, scope and complexity, our treasured lake can be saved, “but only by all of us working together in a cooperative, unified and systematic way.” Without question, as people all over the world have discovered, facing the multiple and complex challenges related to a withering saline lake can be overwhelming, but the consequences of not saving the lake are so profound — because of the large number of people it affects — that those of us working to save it feel we must persist in both commitment and hope.
That is why a number of individuals and organizations (e.g. Grow the Flow, Great Salt Lake Rising, FastForward for the Planet, LDS Earth Stewardship, etc.) are inviting citizens of Utah to choose a time during this weekend, Nov. 14-16, to fast from a meal or more on behalf of the lake.
Fasting is one of humanity’s oldest rituals — an act of restraint that paradoxically opens space for clarity, compassion and connection. Today, fasting remains nearly universal among the world’s religions. Muslims observe Ramadan, abstaining from food and drink as an act of devotion and empathy. Jews fast on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, to seek forgiveness and purification. Some Christians fast during Lent to ritually recognize Christ’s 40 days in the wilderness. Buddhists and Jains fast to cultivate detachment and compassion, and Latter-day Saint Christians fast on the first Sunday of each month to center their lives spiritually and, through paying a “fast offering” or donation, to care for the poor and needy. In each case, the body becomes a vessel of intention and hunger a teacher.
But fasting is not only a religious rite. It is also a form of protest and a tool for healing. Mahatma Gandhi famously fasted to resist British colonialism and to call his followers to nonviolence. César Chávez fasted to draw attention to the plight of farmworkers. More recently, young climate strikers in the UK launched a hunger strike to persuade leaders to act on behalf of the planet.
Science has begun to affirm what ancient traditions intuited. Intermittent fasting has been linked to improved metabolic health, reduced inflammation and even enhanced brain function. Studies suggest that fasting may trigger cellular repair processes, increase longevity, and improve mental and emotional health.
In a time of planetary crisis, fasting offers not just a return to ancient wisdom but a path forward to a better future. Individually and collectively, it invites us to recalibrate our appetite, reawaken our conscience and recommit to the sacred work of healing — ourselves, our communities, our environment and our world.
Our collective hope is that this fast for the Great Salt Lake will become an annual event, each year attracting an increasing number of participants. In pledging to raise the level of the lake to a sustainable level in time for the 2034 Winter Olympics, Gov. Spencer Cox has called for such a communal commitment: “... when Utahns unite around a challenge, there is nothing we cannot do.” The governor sees that saving the lake will be a challenge for the present citizens of Utah as well as those of coming generations: “This work is about the next century, not just the next decade.”
An annual communal fast during the weekend before Thanksgiving will give us hope for the future of the lake as well as an added reason to celebrate Thanksgiving with deepened gratitude.