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”

A pause for Snakelady station identification

Greetings readers, this is a heads up on what’s coming in the next few months. It’s been great to have February to write about whatever came up, but I’m on to new series! At the end of this week I’ll do a formal promo of my Library School Diaries posts about my time at WayneContinueContinue reading “A pause for Snakelady station identification”

Ramadan 2019: III: Getting Closer to God

During past Ramadans, the only thing that mattered to me was an emotional connection to God. A good day of fasting was a day I felt close to God. If I didn’t feel an intense emotional reward, I was bereft. I actually felt punished. I didn’t know that there was another way to evaluate aContinueContinue reading “Ramadan 2019: III: Getting Closer to God”

Ramadan 2019: II: Rules and Regs

There can be a lot of pressure to fast to the letter of the law in Islam. In my location right now, that means fasting from about 5 am to about 9 pm. Assuming you’re eating alone or with family, and in your own home, that gets you to, at most, about five hours ofContinueContinue reading “Ramadan 2019: II: Rules and Regs”