New friends

Last night was really special. Several of us went to a masjid (mosque) to celebrate an interfaith Iftar, which is celebrating breaking the fast at the end of the day with a meal - and LOTS of people. It is now almost the end of Ramadan, and Muslims and those submitted to God have been fasting during the day all around the earth. We learned that the 30 days of Ramadan are divided into 10 day sections - the first 10 being mercy (the physical), the next 10 being forgiveness (concentrating on the spiritual), and the last 10 concentrating on salvation (the intellectual). It is an exercise in self-discipline, and obedience to God. I was challenged. Jesus fasted 40 days - and nights! He made statements like, "when you fast...", not if you fast. I was humbled by these people who took their hunger and thirst and turned it into an offering to God. We can all learn from that, can't we?