day nineteen

“Since Thou hast adorned them, O my Lord, with the ornament of the fast prescribed by Thee, do Thou adorn them also with the ornament of Thine acceptance, through Thy grace and bountiful favor. For the doings of men are all dependent upon Thy good-pleasure, and are conditioned by Thy behest. Shouldst Thou regard him who hath broken the fast as one who hath observed it, such a man would be reckoned among them who from eternity had been keeping the fast. And shouldst Thou decree that he who hath observed the fast hath broken it, that person would be numbered with such as have caused the Robe of Thy Revelation to be stained with dust, and been far removed from the crystal waters of this living Fountain.”

Bahá’u’lláh

amy: above all else, today, i pray my Fast is accepted. 

ryan: when you post on the nineteenth day, i suppose it’s inevitable that you’ll be thinking not just of that day, but of past nineteen. and i’ve been thinking about this quote a lot through the duration of the Fast. the Fast is a gift to us, but also a test (of course, in the end all tests are gifts aren’t they?) and this year i felt both sides of that profoundly. i’ve been able to enjoy meals and prayers with an incredible array of friends through the course of these nineteen days, from quiet breakfasts for a handful to evenings shared with 50 or more. at the same time it’s like i’ve missed the fast entirely, failing to take advantage of the opportunities it provides for prayer and reflection, instead feeling like i’ve had my soul kicked around the proverbial block. i guess i’ll have to wait to find out how this one went down the books…

leila: today i am enchanted with the new life surging out and spearing all around me, and the metaphor of spring following winter, always, always, relentlessly and bringing hope, is filling me up to the brim.