When Four Days Turn to One

March 13 to 16, Days 13 to 16

"Are you getting sick?"

"No?"

"Your nose seems stuffed up."

"No...I don't think so...maybe...probably...yes."

That is the conversation I had a couple days ago with my wife. The denial is clear.

The last four days have been a blur of work, sick and fasting when I can. It's been a time to reflect and to continue some level of restrain while eating.

I've fielded a few questions from friends and realized there may be more about fasting and what it's all about. If you have questions feel free to ask in the comments or message me. I'll try to answer them to the best of my ability keeping in mind the guidance will come from the Baha'i Writings. 

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

Getting Inspired

March 12, Day 12

In an effort at some self-reflection and search for spiritual inspiration I came across this quote by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the son of Bahá’u’lláh, who was the founder of the Baha'i Faith. Enjoy.

"Fortunate are ye to have obeyed the commandment of God, and kept this fast during the holy season. For this material fast is an outer token of the spiritual fast; it is a symbol of self-restraint, the withholding of oneself from all appetites of the self, taking on the characteristics of the spirit, being carried away by the breathings of heaven and catching fire from the love of God."

I enjoy the landscapes of the prairies. The little churches that dot the countryside make for great backdrops. 

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

Losing Yourself in the Slowness of the Day

March 11 Day 11

When slowing down becomes the idea opportunity for reflection. 

Today is a wonderful submission by Ramin Eshraghi-Yazdi, video guru and music knowledge wizard of Nur Films. He's a creative genius. 

"Outside of trying to focus my fast on more spiritual thoughts than ones generated by my hunger, the one thing that I can’t fail to notice, daily, almost hourly, is how the fast slows down time.

Physiologically I understand it. As the day progresses there are less calories in my system, so my movements become slower, the brakes in between my actions linger slightly longer. The slowness of time might be merely a perception caused by my temporary denial of physical sustenance, but its effect on me goes far past a mere side effect.  

I guess it’s how you choose to look at things, and I often fail to find the silver in the lining, but the moments that I can, make the fast the most worthwhile endeavor. The moments where I loose myself in the slowness of the day are when my thoughts seem to always remind me of how lucky I am to be where I am.  

It’s during the slowest moments where I feel the most blessed, the most unworthy, the most overwhelmed by my fortune of opportunity. "

Here's Ramin's photo and description: 

This is my work station; it is not much but the view is the best I have ever had at any workstation. The view is of the back alley and yard of my house. Its an urban landscape facing the backs of other buildings but there are a few trees, and in those trees are a few squares. These squirrels keep me company with their frenzy and acrobatics during my fasting days. They know a spring is coming as do I.

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

Humble Pie

March 10, Day 10

There's nothing quite like eating your own words. 

On day 7 I made the statement that somehow I was able to get through a tough deadline while fasting. Fast forward to today (you're reading this on the 11th but check the date marker Marty) and I get not one, but two calls about names of people I had incorrectly in the newspaper. 

Our little newspaper is a hub of conversation in the community and when you make mistakes it's in plain daylight for everyone to read.

Granted the first error was due in part to the folks who provided the names but certainly there's some way I could have double checked. The second error is kind of hilarious. I got the names right but had the wrong people attached to the names. 

You can imagine how many people pointed it out. 

And so there is a lesson for me that sometimes while quick decisions can be important, sometimes you just gotta slow down and double check your work. 

Self portrait.

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 go right to the source. A good resource is a Baha'i Teachings website

Fasting Yet Eating

March 9, Day 9

The last couple of days I have been nursing a cold and because of that have not been fasting. 

Whenever I get sick during the fast I hit a major personal stumbling block: what now? I get so fixated on the physical side of the fast I forget it's spiritual in nature. This is a good sign of how much I love to eat, or really, how attached I am to eating. 

The fasting period is still here though and the spiritual side is within reach. It really comes down to this: being able to practice restraint on a physical level helps develop those spiritual muscles. That is where I need to focus my energy. 

Shooting basketball can be fun but can also be a lot of the same types of shots. Looking for something different creates an exciting challenge. 

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 go right to the source. A good resource is a Baha'i Teachings website. 

Blast From the Past

March 8, Day 8

There is something inspiring about another perspective on such a personal experience that is the Baha'i Fast. 

Today's post is from my Botswana sister, and truthfully she and her family are like an extension of mine, or we are an extension of them. Today my sister-from-another-mother, Thato B. C. Molefi, provides wonderful insight into her experience of the fast. 

"I grew up at my grandparents' farm in Barolong Farms, Botswana. This time of the year the brown, juicy and sweet Moretlwa berries summon passersby to pick and enjoy the bush produce. My sister was not on this trip so I thought to be considerate and bring her a "blast from the past."On a visit to the farm during this Fasting period I did what my childhood years taught me - to pick Moretlwa berries. Having collected a sizeable amount, my hand instinctively made its journey to my mouth, but it FROZE in front of my wide open mouth, as I instantly remembered that I was fasting, and the sun had not yet set!Another experience of detachment was at play."

If you don't know anything about Moretlwa berries I recommend you take a trip to Botswana and have a taste for yourself. They're awesome. Photos courtesy of Thato B. C. Molefi. 

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 this Baha'i Teachings website. 

When Your Eyes Get All Blurry and Whatnot

March 7, Day 7 

Some say the best way to get a writer to complete an assignment is to give them a deadline. 

I'm no writer but that's not what my job description says and so every Monday is a blur of writing, editing photos and getting copy to the editor for review before it makes it to the newspaper. 

Today - or yesterday since I post this a day later - was a complete blur of all of the above three actions. It's hard to describe a newspaper production deadline unless you have experienced it, or something like it. 

You have little time for thought as you file your work and move on to complete the next assignment. There can be no hesitancy in the decision-making process otherwise the timeline suffers. I don't know about other journalists but most times I look at the information presented to me and what I've researched and I move. It's as simple as that. 

The fast adds the element or distraction of being hungry. By three or four in the afternoon those mental muscles are tired. It takes everything I've got to stay focused. 

 

There was some definite maneuvering of brain resources and food store allocations to make it through the day. What surprised me the most - and I'm sure the next time will be a different challenge - was being able to be disciplined mentally to get the job done. It was a plus one point and it felt good. 

While looking for an interesting image for today an accidental mis-focus during a basketball game captured the tension on fans' faces. Their faces say it all about the intensity of it all. 

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 this Baha'i Teachings website. 

Grace Under Fire

March 6, Day 6, 

Is it possible to be grateful for a major personal test in your life?

This question came up during a conversation with a friend of mine. How can you be grateful when the world around you is blowing up? I'm not sure I have the answer but I'll tell you now, the times I have tried to put that into practice has been mind-altering. 

When there is reason to be angry at the world, or person, there is no better feeling than to follow through with that anger. 

The few times I went against those feelings did, actually, result in a more positive outcome but I tell you now, it took a force of will. 

It wasn't until having this discussion that I realized I was grateful for the fast on Day 3. Right after the sunset I was able to enjoy a cup of water and I had gratitude at being able to drink it, but deeper inside, I was thankful for the test to push myself to do better, 

It's an odd juxtaposition. 

It's an equally challenging proposition when the tests get serious. My test of the fast is a small one and I salute those who are able to have that grace under fire during tough times. 

The one thing I can say for sure is support from friends or family is essential to making it through to the other side and can been a true boost for the spirit.

(I should note that there is also something to be said for stress release; smashing a broken printer to bits does feel pretty good.) 

Enjoyed a fantastic day at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton with some friends. If I had more time I would have enjoyed taking pictures there all day. A beautiful location. 

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 this Baha'i Teachings website. 

When Trepidation Loses

March 5, Day 5

My laptop is in a most-unfortunate location as I type this. 

I have two trains of thought right now: 

• People are more inclined to discuss spirituality than they admit. 
• Being so vocal about the fast has brought strong support from my friends and family. 

The reality of the latter has always been a big surprise for me. Fear of discussing the fast has been a big challenge and my trepidation could be due in part to having to follow through with my obligations. It could also be because of some self-imposed embarrassment about discussing something of a spiritual nature. 

What? You mean now I have to explain what I'm doing and the purpose behind it? 

And yet when I do bring up the fast -- it happens a lot because you'd be surprised how much food is involved in our lives -- serious or thoughtful discussion is provoked. People of all beliefs and philosophies want to throw their thoughts in on it. And it turns out I love discussing it. 

Plus the support. People are vocal and want to reinforce what I'm doing. It also raises questions on the benefits of fasting. Hearing there is no eating or drinking during the daylight hours does raise some eyebrows, which is not a bad thing. 

Talking about the challenges and the benefits helps clarify the point of the fast for me too. It's a learning process, if you're familiar with my personality you'll know learning and growth is not my forte. 

As for the discussion of spirituality I am still working that in my head. More to come on that unless there's something you want to add to it. Feel free to message me or comment if so inclined. 

At some point there was going to be a cat picture in here. It's mandatory. 

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 this Baha'i Teachings website. 

Mastering the Art of Busy

March 4, Day 4, 

Rather than watch the minutes make their slow, arduous way around the clock I stayed busy. 

Distraction it seems, is an ideal method to getting past a difficult personal test. That and preventing tests before they happen. 

Snacks and me go hand in hand. My kids know that my office desk and glove box are candy/snack treasure chests and usually look to there when they are with me. 

Perhaps this video describes it best. 

Imagine their surprise when we get in the car last night and nothing, I repeat, nothing was available to eat. Much to my kids' displeasure I completely emptied out my car and desk of any food/candy/treat. 

That candy void helped spark the conversation of personal tests and ways to avoid making our lives difficult. Seriously, if food were in the car, it would be a challenge not to eat it. As my kids get older so does their curiosity about fasting. Its difficulties and benefits are a hot topic. I hope to continue that discussion with them as the days roll by. 

Being able to share this experience with them is a good feeling. 

Great reflections at the bridal fair last night. If I had brought my lights I think I could have upped the creativity on the shots. 

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. 

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. 

For the Love of Food

"This child respects food."

As my mother's story goes, a family friend mentioned this to her when I was still young in the world.

To provide some explanation as to why the Fast is such a challenge for me, some historical context is needed. I am told when I was a baby/toddler, food was something that shouldn't be messed around with.

Having food on my plate on time and at the right temperature was paramount to a happy Jeff. Fast forward 37 years later and little has changed. Since I started this year's fast I've had a few people ask me about the physical side of not eating and how it affects my energy levels and general humor, so I figured now is a good time to touch on that.

I go through my regular work and activity routine with one added element: fasting.

Do I get hungry? Thirsty? Yes. Do I get cranky? Heck yes. It also brings the added benefit of somewhat interesting breath. I usually carry a bottle of mouthwash with me so I don't accidentally make someone pass out with my bad breath.

I used to think there was some magical way I could make this time easier. Research into foods with the ability to reduce hunger pangs all day turned up some results but nothing that could keep me full and content throughout.

Abstention from anything isn't easy. I'm not sure the fast is expected to be easy either. Maybe it's a time to strengthen or exercise the spiritual muscles. The more I do this the more I realize -- I'm usually slow to change folks -- that there is more to this time of year than the eating part.

To help get my creative juices flowing I snap a photo per day. Today you have two. 

A pleasant surprise in the last couple of days has been one of my daughters waking up a little bit early. It's been a fun time.

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. 

Fast When You Can

2016: March 1, Day 1

It was the untimely death of a friend that spurred me into action.

This wonderful human being had fought a losing battle with cancer for some years yet somehow managed to remain in uplifting spirits. To me this person reached an understanding about life and death at a relatively young age that most people will never achieve. 

Her actions were so inspiring that friends and family made the best to visit her in her last days. From what I could see it was a time of fellowship and joy. She touched many people with her spirit.

In a small effort to honor her life and family I dedicate this fast to her memory. 

While I have always struggled with this time of year it occurred to me that if this person were alive and well she would be taking advantage of this time. It's meant to be one of spiritual renewal. I want to try, in some small way, to do what she couldn't for some years. 

So this one's for her. 

Each day of the Baha'i Fast I also add a photo of the day. It's to get my creative juices flowing. This one is of my wife hanging out before sleepy time. 

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 go right to the source. A good resource is a Baha'i Teachings website. 

Day 17 - Inspiration

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I'm still here.
Being sick last week and shooting a hockey tournament over the weekend has left me with little to say. Last week I was busy putting lose ends before covering a hockey tournament that I had little time for anything else (another reason the large gap in my posts).
Today was the first day I fasted since ages ago and with three days left I was feeling like a lame Baha'i. There's nothing in the Baha'i Faith about being lame so I had all day yesterday to consider my lameness.
Truthfully, with so little time left in the fast I debated whether I was going to fast at all. This is what I mean by lame.
But inspiration hit through an Instagram feed of a friend of mine. A photo he submitted to the Nineteen Days fast blog sparked my spirit and positive thoughts.
"I can do this," I said to myself.
It doesn't matter if it's three days left. There is still the time in this fast and after March 20 it will all be over. I'll have to wait a whole year to be worried for March 2.
So today I dusted off my weary spirit and got up before sunrise, had my breakfast and restrained from eating. I got a killer headache and powered through it.

Today I was grateful for inspiration from a friend a million miles away.

Hockey action was pretty much the only thing I took pictures of for the last four days. I listened to music, shot hockey, listened to music, spoke with parents and shot more hockey. The weekend was busy and I found parents were pleased with my work. I'm grateful for that as I really enjoy taking pictures. So here's some hockey action. Enjoy.

Day 9 - Changing attitudes

In an effort to go with the spirit of the fast I decided that I need to change my attitude a bit. 

Being sick doesn't mean I can't better myself spiritually. Not sure what that all entails but on this fast day I focusses on speaking positively with others, especially when all I wanted to do was snap out. 

The conscious effort made a real change on my overall attitude. It felt great. 

The trick now is to continue on with that plan. That's what I really need to focus on and will report back to you after more time. I want to dwell on the accomplishment of this day but that's just pointless. I need more time with this for it to be a real deal win. 

I love low sunlight. I love low shadows. I love this photo.

Day 7 and 8 - I have no idea what I'm doing

It's true, I have no idea what's going on.
My cold has taken on a new level of stuffy nose and coughy-cough. Not having the physical fast to distract my inner thoughts I have struggled over the last two days. I can function and work but I am eating to stay healthy.
The world in which I live is such that I must continue to work despite being sick. So I'm working but not fasting. I am at odds with myself on this and strangely enough, finding ways to make myself feel guilty. There's nothing in the Baha'i writings that says if you're sick, you should make yourself feel bad. Nothing.
So what's the big deal?
When I figure that out, I'll let you know. Maybe I should just get over my angst and realize that prayer and meditation are also part of the fast. This quote is taken from a prayer by Baha'u'llah:

These are, O my Lord, the days in which Thou hast bidden Thy servants to observe the fast. Blessed is he that observeth the fast wholly for Thy sake and with absolute detachment from all things except Thee. Assist me and assist them, O my Lord, to obey Thee and to keep Thy precepts. Thou, verily, hast power to do what Thou choosest.

It's something I need to think about.

This photo was taken March 8. It was a split second shot that I enjoyed capturing while doing work for the newspaper. 

This was a complete accident while taking some sunset pictures with a friend. I love the flower. 

Day 6 - Some kind of insight

A couple of days ago I explained how the Baha'i Faith has protected me from myself. 

Don't get me wrong, I have many personal issues that I am dealing with, and I forget to use the Baha'i Faith as a tool to deal with those issues.

I'm not saying all the answers are apparent in the writings of the faith but it's almost like having a map to the stars in the sky; a wise man once told me that and I feel it makes sense. One of the those aspects that have inspired me is to be grateful for having a test. 

For me, it's a mind-boggling way to look my trials.When bad stuff happens every part of me wants to complain and protest. I find myself asking, 'Why? What did I do to deserve this?"

But when you go against every fibre of your being and try to be grateful, it's a whole other level of thinking. I want it clear that this is something I am working on and each person's test is different. Some mental and spiritual tests I am going through right now have proved a challenge for me and my family. It's been tough to say the least and in writing a little about it I hope to grow from these tests.

A story by Baha'u'llah from a book called the Seven Valleys and Four Valleys was the first time I was introduced to that. It's a bit long for a blog but worth the read: 

There was once a lover who had sighed for long years in separation from his beloved, and wasted in the fire of remoteness. From the rule of love, his heart was empty of patience, and his body weary of his spirit; he reckoned life without her as a mockery, and time consumed him away. How many a day he found no rest in longing for her; how many a night the pain of her kept him from sleep; his body was worn to a sigh, his heart’s wound had turned him to a cry of sorrow. He had given a thousand lives for one taste of the cup of her presence, but it availed him not. The doctors knew no cure for him, and companions avoided his company; yea, physicians have no medicine for one sick of love, unless the favor of the beloved one deliver him.

At last, the tree of his longing yielded the fruit of despair, and the fire of his hope fell to ashes. Then one night he could live no more, and he went out of his house and made for the marketplace. On a sudden, a watchman followed after him. He broke into a run, with the watchman following; then other watchmen came together, and barred every passage to the weary one. And the wretched one cried from his heart, and ran here and there, and moaned to himself: “Surely this watchman is Izrá’íl, my angel of death, following so fast upon me; or he is a tyrant of men, seeking to harm me.” His feet carried him on, the one bleeding with the arrow of love, and his heart lamented. Then he came to a garden wall, and with untold pain he scaled it, for it proved very high; and forgetting his life, he threw himself down to the garden.

And there he beheld his beloved with a lamp in her hand, searching for a ring she had lost. When the heart-surrendered lover looked on his ravishing love, he drew a great breath and raised up his hands in prayer, crying: “O God! Give Thou glory to the watchman, and riches and long life. For the watchman was Gabriel, guiding this poor one; or he was Isráfíl, bringing life to this wretched one!”

Indeed, his words were true, for he had found many a secret justice in this seeming tyranny of the watchman, and seen how many a mercy lay hid behind the veil. Out of wrath, the guard had led him who was athirst in love’s desert to the sea of his loved one, and lit up the dark night of absence with the light of reunion. He had driven one who was afar, into the garden of nearness, had guided an ailing soul to the heart’s physician.

Now if the lover could have looked ahead, he would have blessed the watchman at the start, and prayed on his behalf, and he would have seen that tyranny as justice; but since the end was veiled to him, he moaned and made his plaint in the beginning. Yet those who journey in the garden land of knowledge, because they see the end in the beginning, see peace in war and friendliness in anger. I am still sick so have not been physically fasting. In the mean time I'm trying to be moderate in my eating and refrain from eating junk food, which is the way I was eating before the fast. More on that tomorrow.

Motion action and sports. I'm a fan of shooting like this but it doesn't always work out. It was fun to experiment with delayed shutter and flash during this hockey game. 

Day 5 - Maintenance

While the Baha'i Faith is still in its infancy, artistic inspiration from the spirit of the faith is growing.

I find the fast, while difficult, provides some inspiration to me and I think other Baha'is. They are expressing their spiritual inspiration in their art and showing it to the world. 

They are writing about the fast and telling millions of their story: Actor Rainn Wilson gave his perspective on being a Baha'i and fasting to Huffington Post last year.  

Others take pictures. I have been so inspired by the photo blog called Nineteen Days. I found out about contributors who take a photo at sunrise and sunset. It's a great daily blog and wonderful to view. 

As for me, this is the second day I have been sick and an internal struggle seems to be making its way in my brain. 

That's part of my challenge though. Keeping the focus of the spiritual purpose of the fast happens whether or not I am eating.
This quote from Abdu'l-Baha's grandson Shoghi Effendi clears it up and I will do my best to remember it.

"Regarding your question concerning the Fast: Travellers are exempt from fasting, but if they want to fast while they are travelling, they are free to do so. You are exempt the whole period of your travel, not just the hours you are in a train or car, etc. If one eats unconsciously during the fasting hours, this is not breaking the Fast as it is an accident. The age limit is 70 years, but if one desires to fast after the age limit is passed, and is strong enough to, one is free to do so. If during the Fast period a person falls ill and is unable to fast, but recovers before the Fast period is over, he can start to fast again and continue until the end. Of course the Fast, as you know, can only be kept during the month set aside for that purpose."

I'm not exactly sure why I like taking pictures of windows and doors so much. It's like a metaphor of some window to the soul or something like that. 

Day 4 - The day I ate food

It's true. I ate food on day 4 of the fast but I was pretty sick this day.
A sore throat and aches all over made fasting a bad idea. This period is not meant as a punishment or something to harm a person, which is great, and there are some exemptions for people who fast and being sick is one of them. Being pregnant or when travelling for extended periods of time are also exempt.
When I woke up in the morning and realized how I felt I was kind of bummed to be honest. The whole point of me writing about my fasting is to deal with its challenges.
A funny thing happened today too. My co-workers and I had a lunch together and a friend I know who follows the blog, saw me. I thought it was pretty funny me eating and all, considering he knows I'm fasting. I actually laughed inside because that is one of the reasons I write this blog, to keep me in check. It was a good moment for me. I did give my friend a brief explanation of why I wasn't fasting though, just so he knew what was going on.
If I wasn't sick though I fully intended to go to this lunch but would not eat. Things just didn't work out that way for me today. So I'm going to drink a bunch of water tonight and get some good sleep and hope tomorrow I will again partake of the physical fast.
So all I was left with today was the spiritual aspect. You know what, it's a lot harder to change oneself, especially when it comes to your passions. A quote by Abdu'l-Baha says it best:

For this physical fasting is a symbol of the spiritual fasting, that is, abstaining from all carnal desires, becoming characterized with the attributes of the spiritual ones, attracted to the heavenly fragrances and enkindled with the fire of the love of God.

That's the trick really. Abstaining from food is a practice that helps one with other aspects. This is something I need to work on. 

Today I struggled for inspiration in things I saw. I try to shoot with no flash for these 19 days but nothing was working for me. But falling snow and taking an idea from something a friend and I did a few months ago, I came up with this image. What fun. 

Day 3 - What? No headache?

I was completely surprised not to have a headache on the third day of the Baha'i Fast.
Hunger pangs came, and went as usual but by 5 p.m. (sunset was at 6:20 p.m.) I felt good enough to cook dinner for the family with little temptation. It's usually when I cut up fruit or something like that that I have to move quick. Juicy fruit (not the gum) is a big temptation for me and I find myself doing my best to stop from tasting food.
Besides being tired mid-afternoon the day went relatively smooth.
It's a funny thing when you fast and have to cover an event for the newspaper that involves food. People usually offer me food and in last night's case it was a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper.
Trying my best not to drool and make people pass out with my bad breath, I had to decline their offer to eat. Now, at some point I realized an explanation was needed, so here I was in the middle of a pancake supper, explaining to anyone that offered food, who I was and why I couldn't eat.
It's a funny thing being me and being a Baha'i. I'm pretty shy about what's happening with me personally but fasting sort of forces me out of my hiding place. This, I find, is ultra inconvenient; I would rather be in a shell of anonymity when it comes to the fast. This way no-one knows I'm fasting, it's almost like a way out if I decide the temptation of pancakes is too great.
But writing about it to the world helps keep me honest. For some, abstaining from food or drink may seem like no big deal, but for me, it's a challenge.
I feel like this the guy who's proud he can count to ten: The good deeds of the righteous are the sins of the Near Ones.
This quote from Abdu'l-Baha makes me realize that every person has their own personal capacity and spiritual challenge. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I can't do better, I'm just saying that everyone is on a different level but the end goal is the same. 

Shadows and light. I realize that last year at this time there seemed to be a lot less snow and higher temperatures.