Attempting Ramadan Fast Again

I tried this a few years ago and made it just ten days

So, here we go. I’m trying to join Muslim neighbors down the street and around the world to fast during the month of Ramadan.

I tried this a few years ago and made it just ten days. The manner in which Muslims fast is hard. There is no comparison to any Christian fast, at least that I know of.

The deal is, of course, that one eats and drinks before sunrise, does not eat or drink anything—including water—all day, and then eats and drinks after sunset each day for thirty days. 

All this is done while going about one’s normal work and play.

If that doesn’t sound so difficult, try it.

As I write this, I am in my second day of Ramadan fasting. It’s 4:45 pm and I have close to four hours left before food and drink are possible.

I am not fasting for spiritual reasons. But if some spiritual breakthrough happens, great.

I am fasting Ramadan...

Because I didn’t make it past ten days a few years ago. 

Because it intrigues me. 

Because it is hard. 

Because in my Christian tradition we don’t attempt such a serious fast or “blessed subtraction” (as my New Testament Professor Morris Weigel referred to it).

Because I want to learn more and identify more with my Muslim neighbors, friends, and associates.

And because my Muslim next door neighbor’s teenage son is pumped that I am going to try to observe. I cannot let him down, though I told him I had not completed the Ramadan fast once before. He seems intrigued that a sixty-year-old Christian neighbor would do this.

We’ll see how this goes.

Ramadan Mubarak!