Ramadan – Plum Librarian LLC

Ramadan 2020: Eid: I Still Believe

Two years ago, I threw my first Eid party. Eid is the celebration that ends the month of Ramadan. Marie came with her husband. They both wore purple to celebrate the day with me, just because it’s my favorite color. She and I went on a six-month church tour all over the Lansing area asContinueContinue reading “Ramadan 2020: Eid: I Still Believe”

Ramadan 2020: On the kindness of Muslims

I have beliefs about God that I have held from childhood. They’re not just internalized beliefs; they’re how I filter the world around me. Many of them are expressed perfectly in Islam. My faith in God often brings me joy, but more than that it brings me steadiness. Among God’s comforts are that I canContinueContinue reading “Ramadan 2020: On the kindness of Muslims”

Ramadan 2020: On Heaven

At the Islam 101 classes I’ve attended for the past year, a new attendee asked me if I believe in heaven, and what I thought it took to get there. I walked through the five pillars of Islam. I talked about fasting even when it is hard. I talked about paying charity because it isContinueContinue reading “Ramadan 2020: On Heaven”

Ramadan 2020: On having everything I need

I converted to Islam when I was 16. You can read my conversion memoir at The Other Journal out of the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology under “Other Publications.” If you’ve followed along for awhile, you know that I’ve spent the last five years pursuing a spiritual path. This year I’m not fasting Ramadan,ContinueContinue reading “Ramadan 2020: On having everything I need”

#LivingVicariously, or, an Update on Seeing a Spiritual Advisor for the Past Six Months

What seriously sparks the interest of two middle aged Muslim converts for whom religion is a central drama of life?: Seeing a spiritual advisor. Mariko texted me asking for updates on my experience with this when I began it. #LivingVicariously. I met JMD professionally last fall when I visited The Hermitage, a retreat center knownContinueContinue reading “#LivingVicariously, or, an Update on Seeing a Spiritual Advisor for the Past Six Months”

Ramadan 2019: V: Eid: And Thoughts about Gratitude

Eid, which began June 4 this year, is the three-day celebration that ends the month of Ramadan. I’m straddling two competing emotions right now: the resentment I mentioned last week that I really want to let go of, and gratitude, which seems to me to be the perfect antidote. Let’s go all-in for gratitude forContinueContinue reading “Ramadan 2019: V: Eid: And Thoughts about Gratitude”

Ramadan 2019: IV: TMI, Lesser-Known Facts about This Month, and a Prayer Request

Normally, I keep my Ramadan posts uber spiritual, and if I don’t have anything nice to say, I don’t say anything at all. This post is a harder look at Ramadan and its traditions. Also, it’s a request for prayer. As you know, my cat Bethesda died this week. I stopped fasting for a fewContinueContinue reading “Ramadan 2019: IV: TMI, Lesser-Known Facts about This Month, and a Prayer Request”