Ramadan

 Ramadan

Day 12

     In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful.  Please guide my writings here to be accurate and clear.

"In the month of Ramadan the Koran was revealed, a book of guidance for mankind with proofs of guidance distinguishing right from wrong.  Therefore, whoever of you is present in that month let him fast.  But he who is ill or on a journey shall fast a similar number of days later on.   God desires your well being, not your discomfort.  He desires you to fast the whole month so that you may magnify God and render thanks to him for giving you His guidance."  Koran 2:184 & 2:185

     Ramadan-the blessed month with all it's gifts is upon us once again.  This year I am able to fast and feel very blessed about that.  Some ask "You feel blessed that you 'have to' not eat or drink for over 16 hours a day for 30 days....really?"  My answer is "ABSOLUTELY!"  Being "able to" fast is a blessing indeed!  It means that I am healthy and strong!  Last year, due to my ITP and the high doses of Prednisone, I wasn't healthy or strong and therefore excused from Fasting.  God does not wish us discomfort and He provides many stipulations to fasting to relieve the burden of those who are unable:  i.e.  pregnant/nursing women; the traveler; those that are sick; menstruating women etc. 

 "Believers, fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you; perchance you will guard yourselves against evil.  Fast a certain number of days, but if any one among you is ill or on a journey, let him fast a similar number of days later; and for those that cannot endure it there is a penance ordained: the feeding of a poor man.  He that does good of his own accord shall be well rewarded, but to fast is better for you, if you but knew it."  Koran 2:183

     To fast, is not only abstaining from food and drink, it also entails avoiding the things that are negative in your life and focusing on the positive; it means to give thanks to God; to avoid things like smoking and drinking alcohol (bc they destroy your body); and to give charity-be it as simple as a smile to a stranger, an extra dollar tip to your waiter to bigger acts of charity such as donating time and money to the poor, the helpless and to those in great need.

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     Prayer is a big focus during Ramadan.  Muslims are prescribed to pray 5 times a day, spaced delicately throughout the day to assist us to remember God.  In regular life, those prayers get pushed aside as we convince ourselves that we are "too busy" and will "pray later."  During Ramadan, the prayer is given priority.  And it dawns on us that we are never truly "too busy" to pray and that even though we say we will "make it up later," when "later" comes around, we find ourselves "too busy" again.  Prayer can take as little as 2-3 minutes to complete...are we ever really "too busy" to devote 2-3 mins, five times a day to thank God?  No!

     The act of praying regularly, fives times a day, automatically causes shifts in our perception....in our outlook on life.  Becoming aware of God those five times a day makes it easier to stay on a path that we are happy and proud to be on; to avoid thoughts and actions that are unhealthy for us; and to feel gratitude.  Do you think a husband would commit adultery if there were a picture of his wife on their wedding day in front of him at the moment he is about to cheat?   Do you think a woman could sit and complain about her child doing (or not doing) this or that, if there were a picture of her newborn baby in front of her?  It would certainly make it more difficult, as that picture would bring an unavoidable awareness to the mind; an awareness of the humanity, the joy and the love that we have for these people in our lives.  I think performing the prescribed 5 prayers a day is like carrying a photograph of all the goodness in our lives around with us.  Having this beautiful picture in front of our faces so many times a day, it automatically becomes more difficult to fill our thoughts, words & actions with negatives.  And as we all know, we are what we think we are.

     Ramadan is a time to destroy negative habits and replace them with positive ones.  So, yes, we get very hungry and thirsty, but we also get filled with the gift of awareness.  Awareness that we are blessed and that we are loved.  We know that at sunset every day we will have food and drink a plenty (unlike too many in the world who don't know where or when their next meal will come to them).  We know that we are loved by God and will meet Him again one day and we know when that day comes, we will want to stay with Him where all is beautiful and kind.

"We have spread out the Earth and set upon it immovable mountains.  We have planted it with every seasonable fruit, providing sustenance for yourselves and for those whom you do not provide for.  We hold the store of every blessing and send it down in appropriate measure.  We let loose the fertilizing winds and bring down water from the sky for you to drink; its scores are beyond your reach."  Koran-15:19

    God does and will provide for all of us.  He may not always give us what we "want," but he certainly always will give us what we "need."  

Have a blessed Ramadan!