the thing that a lot of people aren't aware of, I think, is that the Islamic calendar goes by the moon, so it's constantly changing. last year, ramadan started in mid-september. the year before that, the end of september/early october. next year it will probably start mid-august. I didn't even REALIZE it was september. I didn't make the 9/11-ramadan connection either. I wish people would take a second to learn anything about Islam... you don't have to be a believer to appreciate the faith. it took me finding comfort in Islam to embrace Christianity.
anyway.
I didn't know that! I'll fast with you if you want. =) not that it'll make a whole lot of difference since we aren't right here together, but.. I totally agree that it's a personal experience. each individual will take something different away from fasting. for example, whenever I start to get cranky and hungry, I just try to remember that this is LIFE for another person. that there are people who go days or weeks without eating. other people probably don't connect with it in that sense, but that's why everyone is different! I hope that you can find someone nearby to fast with! and I miss you tons.
That's a really good way to look at it. The church encourages two main reasons for our "fast sunday," and that's one, for those who participate. We give whatever we would have spent on those three meals and they use it to help people who need help. People here fast, but it's really not the same to fast with your roommates that you don't really know.. heh. I miss you too.
that's awesome.. I think that's a really good thing to do (donate to the poor). I could be mistaken but I believe that's one of the elements of ramadan too. I know that if you break your fast early for whatever reason, you're encouraged to donate a certain amount of money or food to the poor and make the day up later. I'm not 100% on if we're also supposed to donate as we fast. I clearly have a lot more learning to do!
it's definitely not the same, I know how you feel. plus your roommates don't sound like the most delightful of people =P
I didn't even REALIZE it was september. I didn't make the 9/11-ramadan connection either.
I wish people would take a second to learn anything about Islam... you don't have to be a believer to appreciate the faith. it took me finding comfort in Islam to embrace Christianity.
anyway.
I didn't know that! I'll fast with you if you want. =) not that it'll make a whole lot of difference since we aren't right here together, but..
I totally agree that it's a personal experience. each individual will take something different away from fasting. for example, whenever I start to get cranky and hungry, I just try to remember that this is LIFE for another person. that there are people who go days or weeks without eating. other people probably don't connect with it in that sense, but that's why everyone is different!
I hope that you can find someone nearby to fast with! and I miss you tons.
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it's definitely not the same, I know how you feel. plus your roommates don't sound like the most delightful of people =P
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