The example of patience on Sekilau Hill

Every day I look out my window to a beautiful view of Sekilau Hill (Bukit Sekilau):

I wish I could be as patient as the trees on Sekilau Hill . . .

Come rain or shine they stand in their place and wait patiently . . .

They don't tremble when mists of uncertainty temporarily cover them . . 

They don't worry when the skies turn grey . . .

They also patiently admire the skies on better days . . .

They enjoy the sun when it shines upon them . . .

But they also quietly persevere when the monsoon rains descend . . .

I wish I could be as patient as the trees on Sekilau Hill

Ramadan one-week fasting trial - Day 4

Hello again. Day 4 was particularly challenging. I did have an illuminating time reading the Book of Mormon, the Holy Bible and the Holy Qur'an. I know that one of the requirements for Muslims is to read the entire Qur'an during Ramadan. 

So, my Muslim friends, how is it going? and how far have you got?

I'm a sufferer of severe headaches, as you may remember I wrote about in this article. I wrote in my fasting journal how I was quite surprised I hadn't come down with a headache so far this week. Unfortunately this afternoon it came and at 4pm I broke my fast. I have a family to take care of so I have to look after my health first. I was disappointed I had to stop early but sometimes we have to make such decisions for the better good.

Then I received a comment which was rather negative and sarcastic concerning my Day 3 fasting efforts, so I decided against publishing it. 

I have received so many positive and encouraging comments so far which have helped me to continue past a tough Day 1. However, this comment kind of knocked me back a bit, telling me that their 6-year-old could do better than me! Then they told me to, impossibly, not be offended! 

"It matters not if you try and fail, and try and fail, and try again. It matters if you try and fail and fail to try again."

I'm a non-Muslim giving this fasting a good try. I tried real hard. I gave every effort I could. But I realised today that I'm not really doing this to please the Muslim community or for anyone else for that matter. I did it for myself, to get closer to God, spend a little more time 'away' from the world, and for the purposes I mentioned earlier. Those purposes were to develop a greater level of patience so that we could enjoy improved harmony and love at home.

Those purposes have been fulfilled. I feel very calm and at peace with everything.

There are many good people of whatever faith they may be who repeatedly try and fail, and try and fail, and keep on trying again. This includes a number of Christian friends who try their best and fall and struggle, and then dust themselves down and try again. We don't condemn them, or criticise them, we just offer the helping hand again, and again, and again, as long as it remains necessary.

Thank you to all who have commented so positively regarding my Ramadan fasting trial, who have given me a lot of encouragement. I'm pleased to announce the fasting trial has been completed, a little earlier than planned but having fulfilled it's purpose.

I've enjoyed it a lot and I'm glad I gave it a go. I'm definitely better because of it.

All my best wishes are with the Muslims who are fasting faithfully this month.

Once again, I'd be interested to know how my Muslim friends are progressing with their reading of the Qur'an . . .

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!