In a time of fasting, remember to feed the soul

By Erik and Darya Veach
FROM HEART TO HEART for The Register-Guard
March 5, 2005

Alá, the Bahá’í month of fasting, is always an exciting time for us. It falls directly between two of our biggest holidays, Ayyám-i-Há - four days filled with sharing and get-togethers - and Naw Rúz, the Bahá’í and Persian New Year, and the first day of spring.

During the 19 days of the fast, Bahá’ís refrain from eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset. Although this is a spiritual time, the act of fasting can be quite challenging.

During the fast, we face an ongoing struggle between our natural inclination to make the experience as easy as possible, while also trying to retain the spirit of the month and remember the reasons why we are asked to fast.

On the one hand, there's that little voice inside our heads that says eat as much as you can before sunrise, try not to do much strenuous work during the day, and take naps whenever possible so you can make it through without getting too hungry.

Then there's the other voice, reminding us that this is an opportunity to grow spiritually and renew our commitment to God and our fellow human beings, a time to re-center ourselves spiritually so we're better equipped to deal with daily life the rest of the year.

As challenging as the fast is, it has many wonderful and unexpected benefits. For example, because activities associated with eating occupy so much of our daily schedule, we are always amazed at how much time is freed by eliminating this chore for much of the day.

We find ourselves doing things that we otherwise complain about not having enough time to do: reading, praying, contemplating and completing tasks that had been put off. In fact, using this time to draw closer to God can turn a difficult task into one of the greatest of opportunities.

Because the fast is an experience shared by Bahá’ís worldwide, it becomes a strong common bond.

Whether planning dinner with friends to break the fast after sunset, sending someone a midday e-mail to commiserate about hunger pangs, or getting tips from an uncle for combating the unpleasant taste resulting from leaving your mouth empty all day, we tend to seek out more fellowship and find more excuses to get together with friends and family during this time.

The best part about taking on any challenge is meeting it successfully, and, of course, by rejoicing in that success. The final day of fasting is always marked by a huge Naw Ruz celebration beginning at sunset, making the festivities especially enjoyable.

You can bet there will be tons of food there!

It's quite a way to usher in the New Year - a period of fasting to cleanse the body, mind and spirit, followed by a joyous celebration, leading into days that are longer and warmer, filled with signs of new life and flowers in bloom.

It's a wonderful outward expression of the inward feelings we get from this incredible experience.

Erik and Darya Veach are members of the Bahá’í Faith. This column is coordinated by Two Rivers Interfaith Ministries, a network of more than 35 religious and spiritual traditions in the Eugene-Springfield area. For more information, call 344-5693.