It was 5:30am when I was awoken by a clamor in the kitchen. The Fast has begun. As a Baha'i, my housemate Dennis has started to fast for 19 days - no eating or drinking (even water) while the sun shines. It is similar to the Islamic ritual of Ramadan. All the Baha'is carry around this chart that tells them the sunrise and sunset time of each day on the fast, accurate to the minute. Being ignorant, I don't see the point of this fast. But apparently it's supposed to help oneself transcend the phyisical reality of life in an effort to become closer to God. My theory is that you become so freaking hungry that your body reacts to the pain by secreting endorphins, giving you a natural high.
I don't think I could ever participate in the fast. For one thing, it's unhealthy (not the point, the Baha'is tell me), and I would just tell God "Yo, I know you're there and you're good, and you will support me. You know that. I know that. And I'm going to eat this cheeseburger right now. We're cool, right? Say nothing if you agree."
It's super Tuesday in California, and people are voting in the primaries as well as some Arnie sponsored props. I didn't realize the significance of today until I went to Noah's to get a bagel this morning before work. There was no one there. Usually the line is out the door. So, voting days are great days to go buy bagels.
Posted by G at March 2, 2004 09:22 AM | TrackBack