The last month of the Baha’i year, Ala which means Loftiness, is a month of fasting. We do not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset. The purpose is not to starve ourselves or to simply give up something. The purpose is more of to focus on becoming a better person. A purification of sorts. Every time you feel hungry, think of God. I actually really enjoy the Fast.
Everyone keeps asking me “so how’s the Fast?” as if it’s supposed to be different here than elsewhere. At first I thought “it’s the same”, but then I came to realize a few differences. 1) I’m in Africa – I actually drink more water here than I do at home, and the lack of water sometimes makes me feel really dehydrated. I need to drink more water and night and in the morning with breakfast. A new habit I need to start and continue when I’m in the States. 2) The food here is different – obviously, right? But it’s not just that. I got really sick one day (because of the food) and missed school. There are people who are exempt from fasting (such as pregnant women and the sick, among others), and I definitely qualified as one of them that day. The thing about fasting is – it’s between you and God. Even for those who don’t physically fast, they can still do their own kind of thing. My “non-fasting day” during the Fast consisted of lots of prayers, eating only what I needed (not snacking on chocolates, etc.), and reading Baha’i books. This way, I still felt like I was accomplishing what I was supposed to.
I’ve had a lot of time lately to read books, so the book I finished during the Fast was Prescription for Living by Ruhiyyih Khanum. This was an excellent book, so thanks for the recommendation, Asiyih! I’m going to start reading The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys by Bahá'u'lláh next, but I’m kind of torn between reading that and Turning Point which is a compilation of Writings from the Universal House of Justice in the past 20 years. Maybe I’ll read both simultaneously. Who knows. I’m also reading Door of Hope which I borrowed from Gavin & Linda. It gives a historical background of each of the sites of the Baha’i Pilgrimage. I’m very excited to be going in 2 months!
The only really difficult thing I find about fasting here is the fact that I have to make all of my own food. Leftovers are difficult here, so every night we have to make something new. Kyle and I have made our dinners together every night (unless we’re eating elsewhere) and it’s been really fun and enjoyable, but I miss having a microwave or a cafeteria (or a mommy!). If I get home from school late, there’s not enough time to make a good meal so we have to go out to eat. Even when I get home from school on time, I can’t take a nap (like I normally do during the Fast in the States) because I have to cook. I’m so exhausted by the end of the day anyways, so I go to bed super early (9:30-10PM). But my body is set so it can only sleep for 6 hours, which means I wake up at 4AM. Unfortunate, but it means I’m definitely awake for breakfast before sunrise!
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