30 Days of Yearning

This morning women began to crawl out of bed at 2:30 a.m. As they rubbed sleep from their eyes and tried to wrap their foggy minds around the tasks of the early hour, they nudged younger girls, urging to wake from their slumber and take part in the preparation.  They work together to prepare a meal that will sustain them through the long hot day. The rest of the family is awoken and quickly and quietly eat together before the first glimmer of light graces the early morning sky. After the meal, many return to slumber for a few more hours. Others spend time praying or reading the Kor.an. It is really to each his own, whatever will get them through the long day without food and water.

For the next 30 days this will be the mantra of followers of Islam all over the world.  The Mus.lim world shuts down, in a sense, as people refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, sex, sometimes from t.v., etc. Stomachs rumble, throats are dry, desires go un-met, and tempers wane.  This time of year temperatures are well above 100 degrees F. every day. On these long, hot days, manual labor must go on and people struggle. There is a yearning that creeps into every essence of life in this place.

More than the physical yearning, however, the earth rumbles with a yearning for eternity, a yearning for peace. 

Fulfilling this time of fasting is obligatory for followers of Is.lam, but that doesn’t mean it will satisfy. Many are desperate for some sense of security or of eternal stability.  Enduring hunger will hopefully bring them one step closer to Heaven. One good deed further from the fires of hell.

But the yearning never stops. And one can never really be sure of their eternal destiny. Pushing and clamoring, and fasting and yearning for peace are a people who need a Savior.  Oh what joy could be theirs if they only experienced the power of life eternal offered for them!

Will you pr.ay with us for them this month? The millions who purposely go without in hopes of having it all in the end? Will you pr.ay for dreams and visions, for divine appointments, for eyes and ears to be opened and hearts to be changed? 

Please consider lifting up your hearts and voices as we storm the throne on behalf of these dear people  - that they would come to yearn for the well that never runs dry.  That their yearning would turn to dancing as they come to know peace.