Ramadan

Our stake held a special Ramadan fast today as we prepared to host a Muslim IFTAR event this week. Unlike our regular 24 hour fasts this was just sun up to sun down, which seems easy comparatively! Muslims fast like this for the entire month of Ramadan. (I think that would be extremely difficult.) 

Mary and Abe joined Dan and I and were up by 6:30 cooking eggs and toast to eat before the sun rose. I was particularly proud of Abe for participating and even after church he said, "This kind of fasting is so easy!" That was until 2:00 when he wandered into the kitchen and said he was going to make a sandwich- which he didn't eat and he lasted until sun-down. 

Fasting is particularly difficult for me. I think it is just as much a mental exercise as a physical one. I find it increasingly difficult to be pleasant as the day progresses. Needless to say, by the time Dan and I were praying last night, I felt like an apology was needed. It was Dan's turn, and after he closed I said: 

"Hey, you didn't say anything about repenting or striving to do better or sins... etc."
Dan, "Was I supposed to?"
 "Well, yeah. I was just going to say "Amen." to your prayer and call it good."
Dan chuckled, "Well, sorry I couldn't do your repenting for you." 

It was funny moment, but I also felt the Spirit teach the principle that salvation is a personal matter. No matter the greatness of the sin or mistake, or how inconsequential my actions may seem, no one else can do the repenting, reparation or pleading for me. So thankful for those sweet few minutes last night.