To be honest I did not prepare or have any idea of what I was getting myself in to. A last minute decision based on the prayers of myself and others I had met upon the path, to say I was unprepared would be the greatest of under statements.
For those of you that have never experienced Ramadan please let me explain.
This is the middle of the year. Days are at their longest and nights their shortest. Days are hot and full of sunshine, and days without sunshine are hot, heavy and draining. Nights? Nights are hard to sleep. Hot and humid comfort is impossible as you lay covered in your own sweat, although this is not a major issue as nights you need to eat, and drink, and pray that God has seen fit to make this possible. Nights have new meaning where sleep is the last thing on your mind, however tired you might be.
As I said, I have had to re evaluate how I am living my life so as to enjoy this in its entirety. Awake for most of the night and prayers all day do not leave much time for sleep, so I have had to work out when I can sleep and this has become a procession of "light" naps that happen wherever I find myself at the time: On a train. In a field. At home. At friends. It is lucky I am not being forced to work or I don't know if I would survive (obviously I do, I am following His will after all).
Headaches come and go. They have got better since I changed my style of living and I have lost a lot of weight (I had weight to spare) because of constant walking and a much better diet. I have multiple cuts on legs and arms from the paths I keep walking, but do not feel them as they have no importance as I trust Him to keep me safe. I have a tan the likes of which I have not had since my last visit to the Arab States almost twenty five years ago. I see the beauty that is God everywhere and have NEVER been so happy.
Simply put, God is love.
I know this now, and once you understand this everything makes sence.
Gods love is limitless and is for ALL mankind, for every member has a soul and the ability to enter heaven. To stand against this is as to stand against God, and I could never do such a thing.
Without a soul and the freedom of will we would be nothing more than the animals with which we share this planet, although many of these animals live with more compassion and grace (and certainly less greed) than we do. They learned to take what they need. Not just to take it all to stop others from having.
When the lion is sated it moves away from the feast so others may eat. Hyenas. Vultures. Flies. But Humanity would take the whole feast for themselves so as to deny others a meal, or would let you share only for a profit.
Too many are on the wrong path. Not many, but too many as we look for salvation via sports cars and widescreen TV's. Through the promotion of ourselves at the expenses of others.
But understand this: One day, maybe not soon but one day, you will stand to be judged for your life. Not as a rich man or a King. Not as a poor man or as a Priest. But as a man, equal under God. And in a world of envy, greed and lust it is the poorer man that will have committed less sin.
Everything is YOUR choice. Heaven is YOUR goal.
Change your path if you are one that would want to go, and join me on my knees being thankful for the chance knowing that forgiveness is unconditional, the same as His love.
Gods will be done.
Happy Ramadan,
Barticus
