Sometimes You Just Have to Slog Your Way to the Finish

March 3, Day 3

Day three was like a painful basketball game that seemed to never end.

It was the kind of experience where, when watching the game, you're not sure who won regardless of the scoreboard. This was my day three and it pushed my patience and determination right until the last minute.

Perhaps it was the headache that set it off or the hunger pangs that throbbed in my stomach, but day three -- or maybe I should call it The Day that was Third -- proved a tough challenge. It wasn't pretty, but I made it through to the other side.

There is reward in hard work.

I know, how cliché. But that determination, and support from my wife, helped me slog through the day to complete my fast and make me feel better for it. Perhaps the biggest lesson for me was that distractions can make an hour seem like a couple of minutes. Had I distracted myself with something to do the last few hours may have gone differently.

Even more ironic is learning from the same line I use on my kids when they are struggling with hard stuff. Had I kept myself busy I think I could have created less suffering on myself. And that is what I intend to do in upcoming days during this period.

And when the sun did finally set, the feeling of being able to eat and drink after completing the fast was like a beautiful sunrise.

Love this photo of my wife as the sun was making its way through our room. 

As always the opinions and views expressed in this blog are mine only and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any institution of the Baha’i Faith. I recommend you go right to the source. A good resource is a Baha'i Teachings website.