Spring update

It is a busy month for many of us. Some of us have (unfortunately) taken part in Daylight Savings Time (when will this practice end?!) and are adjusting to one less hour of sleep (fun times if you have kids :)).

For others, Lent began on February 14th and ends on March 30th, which is then followed by Easter. During this time period, many Christians will take part in a fast, which can involve giving up certain foods, activities, or habits and reflect on the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and thus serves as a time of repentance, self-examination, and spiritual renewal. A rebirth if you will.

This month also coincides with the beginning of Ramadan, a holy month in the Islamic calendar where Muslims take part in a month long fast, where they, like me, abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset. It is also a time of reflection, repentance, taking part in charitable acts with an emphasis on donations and feeding the needy, all of which to bring you to a higher state of being and closer to Allah (God). Ultimately, it is a time of growth, reflection, renewal and arguably a “rebirth”. Muslims believe that the Quran, the Islamic holy texts, was first revealed during the month of Ramadan and so many take part scripture readings and recitations, and community prayers. Muslims aim to read the Quran in its entirety throughout the holy month.

March welcomes the first day of spring or the spring equinox, a time symbolic of rebirth and renewal in the Northern Hemisphere. The indigenous communities of Canada see the spring as a time of spiritual and physical cleanse of the body, mind, spirit, and heart. This included practices of a four-day retreat to places for purification which included fasting, meditation, songs, and prayers for a spiritual, emotional, and mental clearing. Although ancient practices, these methods of renewal are still practiced today.

Nowruz or Persian New Year is celebrated on the spring equinox by several ethnic groups and dates back to the Zoroastrian faith, which is arguably the world’s first monotheistic faith (this is contrary to the belief that Judaism was the first monotheistic faith). The word Nowruz translates to “new day”, again emphasizing the concepts of renewal or rebirth. Today, Nowruz is celebrated by all faiths throughout Iran, Afghanistan and India where those of Zoroastrian, Baha’i, and Muslim faiths are practiced.

As an aside, according to scholars, Zoroastrianism had spread throughout Babylon and was arguably where Prophet Abraham was first exposed to the idea of the “one God” before migrating to the lands of Canaan from Babylon in what many believe to have modern day Iraq.

What is common across these faiths and belief systems are the concepts of sacrifice, reflection, renewal and rebirth, where the importance of good deeds and charity emphasized.

So, my questions to you are:

What do you do to encourage self-reflection, a sense of renewal or rebirth?

Is the concept of sacrifice involved in these practices of self-reflection and renewal?

Is gratitude involved in these practices?

As I fast for the month of Ramadan and reflect upon my many privileges and blessings, and think about those on the brink of starvation due to man-made disasters, I wanted to leave you with a verse from the Quran:

 “ They ask thee what they should spend in charity. Say: Whatever you spend that is good, is for parents and kindred and orphans and those in want and for wayfarers. And whatever you do that is good. Allah knows it well” (Chapter Al-Baqarah, Verse 215).

Wishing you a wonderful spring and a blessed holiday season be it whatever you may celebrate.

Ysly

SehamASD Faith Emphasis