From Patheos.com
By Rev. Susan Thistlethwaite, An ordained minister of the United Church of Christ
This is turning out to be a good day, even a good month to reflect on Ramadan for me as a Christian. In addition to being a month of fasting from dawn until dusk, Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to turn their attention from worldly affairs to improvement of themselves, deepening their spiritual lives and seeking enlightenment. The stock market has fallen about 1,500 points since the beginning of Ramadan, so “turning away” is an excellent idea.
This isn’t entirely “gallows humor” on my part. The point of Ramadan is not to ignore the world, but to place it in its rightful context. You are not to let worldly affairs dominate your life to the neglect of a relationship with God, with your family, and with those in need.
As I resist the urge to check on my retirement investments yet one more time today, I realize that my anxiety is a symptom of “worldly” domination of my life and I need to free myself from it. I am not my stock portfolio. Well, not any more…
