Somehow, the fast in Gambia last year was more spiritual. I don't know. it might have been the 13 and a half hour days that we were fasting for;) and a little bit of no blood sugar. Helen might agree with me on this if comments were working but because of a contumacious oppressor we will have to wait a few days.
Right now, I'm procrastinating a little before I start cramming for a midterm I have in 150 min. I had four exams and a quiz this week and, to top off the fast, am feeling a little burnt out. However, on monday I received a 98% on my spanish exam and on wednesday night, the first night of the fast, at 5:45pm I took my chem test (the sun sets, you've got it, 6:33) until 6:45pm. On that I was given a 100%.
I know you're all smart but let me just bask in this glory for a while. Anyhow, I guess I should probably be thankful that I had such a cool family and friends who have helped develop and encourage my smarts. I was so tired of not doing well in spanish that I burned myself out this last week studying for the test. I'm looking forward to devouring the spanish test next week! Yum!
are the comments working again? maybe. they weren't on nathan's blog.
Funny - I couldn't see that there was a comment here - but here it is! I tried on my blog and got a 'permission denied' note.
Congrats, Mendon, on doing so well on your midterms! I was fortunate in undergrad - the Fast usually fell, at least for some of the time, during spring break!
Posted by: Mara Fojas at March 5, 2005 6:25 AMHuh. I got the same 'failed' message, but here it is when I click on comments again!
Posted by: Mara Fojas at March 5, 2005 6:26 AMhooray. I'm not done with midterms. I still have three more exams this week. But spring break is the week after this one. I'll be able to finish the fast at home and enjoy Naw Ruz at home (which means that we'll get to introduce Kristen to some great Naw Ruz food... assuming that we find a persian family to party with, like the malakootis!)
Posted by: Mendon at March 5, 2005 2:33 PMYeah, my most vivid memeories of Gambia were the time that I spent fasting, still straight after two weeks of malaria, being able to see straight again was quite a nice feeling!
I suspect that it's all about perspective and motivation. When your sole purpose for being in a country is to serve Baha'u'llah when you are already enduring loneliness, deprivation and if necessary persecution to hold aloft the scared flame of the Faith of Baha'u'llah (Shoghi Effendi - to the British Isles, 1955) it doesn't seem so much of a big thing to go "oh right then, no food now, that's cool". And being surrounded by a community of people all doing the same will have helped as well.
I know for myself it's about focus, about re-dedicating myself to the Cause - you can't voluntarily stop eating and drinking without thinking about why you are doing it and what value you place upon it. Where possible I try and use the fast as reflection time, and to check that my current direction in life is the one that I want to be taking.
Congrulations on your exam results, I also had midterms this week - five exams, no results yet. You're in my prayers.
Helen
Posted by: Helen at March 6, 2005 1:32 AMMy problem is that as I tough my way through the fast, I have trouble remembering why I am doing this other than obedience. But, I am hanging in there and doing it one day at a time.
Funny how the world plays tricks on you. Or my mind plays tricks on me. Before the fast the world was dark. Dark when I went to work in the morning and dark when I would come home at night. I did notice that the days were getting a bit longer, as in the sun would be setting when I left work, but I'd still feel like I was in the dark*. Then the fast started. When I drove to work before the fast, I needed my headlights; now I don't. But the biggest change was coming home from work. All of a sudden, now the sun is in full shine when I leave. It feels like hours until sunset.
*And those lenghthening days always fill me with dread, because I know how hard the fast will be. And I am always right. Now, if I thought about how wonderful the fast would be, I suppose I would also be right. I have to work on that.
CONGRATS ON STRAIGHT A'S Mendon! Wow. I feel good for you. Nothing like those pretty Alphas to make all the all-nighters in the diners with cheap coffee and fries worth it. Ahhh.
Madame Maman, I am with you. It's so strange. How can I just simply FORGET why I'm doing this? I feel so guilty. I think I need to really pray more than I usually do, and find some way to make this time special. I do notice that I think in different ways, I think about consequences, I think about actions and motivations, i think of God's will, I try to react better, and more than normal, and without particularly trying, so it makes me think that if I actually tried to sanctify these hours voluntarily, theh results might be even more tangible.
Discipline is a pill. Once you take it, it goes down easy I suppose, but no one likes a pill.
Mendon and Madame Maman, I'll be thinking of you as I try to approach my Fast with a more conscious attitude. I just scared myself tonight thinking that I could just let my life slip by me if I don't meditate and become conscious of what is taking place as it is taking place, and what my path is looking like. Otherwise I might have a bad surprise at the end of my journey...
Posted by: VvVv at March 7, 2005 7:16 PM