Does the Journey Seem Long?

Does the journey seem long,

The path rugged and steep?

Are there briars and thorns on the way?

Do sharp stones cut your feet

As you struggle to rise

To the heights thru the heat of the day?

Is your heart faint and sad,

Your soul weary within,

As you toil 'neath your burden of care?

Does the load heavy seem

You are forced now to lift?

Is there no one your burden to share?

Let your heart be not faint

Now the journey's begun;

There is One who still beckons to you.

So look upward in joy

And take hold of his hand;

He will lead you to heights that are new-

A land holy and pure,

Where all trouble doth end,

And your life shall be free from all sin,

Where no tears shall be shed,

For no sorrows remain.

Take his hand and with him enter in.

Text by Joseph Fielding Smith (1876-1972)

All photos taken by Duncan D. Horne around Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan, Malaysia

Ramadan one-week fasting trial - Day 2

DAY 2

Yesterday morning I woke up early to eat my breakfast. As I was doing so I began to think, "Oh no, I have to do this all over again today!" But I pushed these thoughts away and remembered the purposes of my fast and the importance I've attached to them.

Now would be a good time to tell you all the purpose of my fast. I have determined that the purpose of my fast will be to develop greater patience, and to apply that patience to my roles as husband and father, so that there may be improved harmony in the home.

Now patience is something I think we all seek to better about ourselves at times. Time and time again I've told myself to have more patience, but this moment of fasting appears to be the most effective in finally getting over the hurdle. It is the most meaningful improvement I'm making in my life.

I read some scriptures in the afternoon, comparing and contrasting The Book of Mormon with The Holy Qur'an. Learning snippets of truth and developing a greater personal relationship with God, requires much time and patience. There are pearls of truth to be found everywhere. Just as learning the truth requires years of patience, so too developing family relationships and harmony in the home needs time, effort and patience.

Perhaps later yesterday night I was given my first test of patience to see how well my fast was working. In the midst of a thunderstorm, which dramatically cooled things down after a hot day, someone's car alarm was triggered and continued beeping, stopping for a few seconds, beeping again, stopping, beeping. It must have gone on for over half an hour, at a time when we were trying to settle down, get the youngest to sleep, and after a long day of fasting.

My first reaction was to grumble and moan. Then I suddenly realised that this could be a mini-trial. So I told myself that I wasn't going to get angry and flustered over a simple car alarm. Instead I folded the clothes and exercised patience.

I feel that I'm being more patient with Lauren, my oldest daughter too.

P.S. I broke my fast with KFC last night, a very good way to do it!

Ramadan - One-week fasting trial

Ramadan time is here again. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is the month of fasting in the Islamic faith. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset every day for a month, this year running from 1st-29th August.

Unfortunately, Ramadan for us means a lot of Malay youths wandering the neighbourhood streets at night setting off fireworks and firecrackers until midnight, disturbing us and our children's sleep, and being a general nuisance to all.

However, yesterday as I was shopping, I noticed all the restaurants pretty much empty, as Muslims refrained from food and drink during the daylight hours.

As a Christian I also participate in fasting, though at different times to Muslims. We fast on the first Sunday of every month, for 24 hours, or by skipping two meals. We have the opportunity to donate the money saved on our meals to help the poor and hungry wherever in the world they may be. However one fasts, the reasons remain the same.

There is a distinctly spiritual element to fasting. Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights. The Bible states: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loosen the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?"

And from the English translation of the Holy Qur'an: "Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn self-restraint - Ramadan is the month in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear Signs for guidance and judgement between right and wrong. So every one of you who is present at his home during that month should spend it in fasting...Allah...wants you to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance you shall be grateful."

For more information on Ramadan and fasting from a Muslim perspective, follow these two links:

Wikipedia explains

About.com - Ramadan

So as I was walking home yesterday evening with my shopping and each-a-cup drinks, I decided right then that I would give this  sunrise to sunset fasting a go. I wanted to experience what the Muslims are experiencing this month. I've decided that I will be fasting for one week, beginning Monday 8th August, until Sunday 14th August, 2011. Of course, I'll be blogging about it each day. 

I hope you'll follow me over the course of those 7 days. While fasting I will spend more time trying to establish my relationship with God through prayer and the study of God's words as found in the Holy Scriptures of Christianity and Islam.

So I'll strive to tolerate the noise of firecrackers and all that negative side of the month, and focus on the fast. Let's see how it goes!

Would you be willing to give the one-week fasting trial a try?

Being Religiously Clean

I find it ironic that here in Kuantan there is a stunning symbol of cleanliness in the Pahang State Mosque...

...yet people can't even keep the streets clean...

Yesterday we decided to have a clear-out of our home. Unnecessary objects were mercilessly piled up on the rubbish heap outside for disposal. We discovered our previous printer which we'll never use again. Four old, stained and dusty pillows that haven't left the shelf for over two years. An empty aquarium and pet cage hanging around doing nothing but creating clutter. A deflated bouncy castle with dirty patches that we will never blow up again. A pile of Christmas cards which we'll never re-read and which will be replaced with new versions each December. Empty cardboard boxes which once contained shoes.

They all took a dive into the bin!

The list went on and we ended up filling two shopping trolleys worth of rubbish which I carted down to the end of the block where the large bin sits. A Malay man began sifting through the mound of trash, stuffing his selections into a large, white sack.

De-cluttering the house is an annual event in our home, but I wish it would be a daily one. Each day, items enter our homes, whether they are newspapers, brochures, food, drink, gifts, toys, equipment etc. It would be much easier to screen these items or those they are replacing, on the day they arrive, than a year later when they've been stuffed into a dark and forgotten corner of the kitchen cupboard.

There is great inspiration in the Pahang State Mosque, as in all other religious temples and buildings, which display cleanliness, tidiness and order, both inside and out. They can become a model to base our own homes upon. However, judging by the littered streets in Kuantan, the effect of religion seems to play but a secondary role in life here, contrary to the fact that Malaysia is a multi-religious society.

Religion, of whatever kind, teaches cleanliness. Cleanliness of body, soul and mind. The great mosques, churches, temples, halls and synagogues are spotless, to invite a feeling of awe and reverence for God.

How then, can one justifiably claim to be a follower of God, and simultaneously live a life of littering?