Kecia Escoe: "To have the whole world participating ..."

Kecia Escoe, who holds a masters in Human Resource Administration and also works with children’s programs at her Muslim center, talks about the strength she derives from the global nature of Ramadan. Christians experience this sense of global unity, as well, around observances like Lent, Easter and Christmas. The awareness of a worldwide community, fasting and praying with her, gives her spiritual strength. She told her story to journalist Thomas Gilchrist. These are her words:

   For me, Ramadan is a time of reflection, and a time to slow down. The invitation to practice Ramadan—not everyone gets that opportunity, so it’s a welcome invitation to not go around in our day-to-day hustle and bustle, to sacrifice things that we like, like food and drink … It’s a blessing, a blessing for me, and to have the whole world participating in something all at the same time is really powerful.
    We deal with our children everyday, but during Ramadan, we can reflect and just talk about what’s really going on in our lives, to help our children become stronger, so that when they are older, they can participate in Ramadan. We have to be true examples for them. 
   You get more blessings during the month anyway, but during the Night of Power you get a thousand months worth of blessings, about one hundred year’s worth. I mean, who lives that long? If you get blessings during this time of your life, and you get more blessings each year after that, and you do it every year for 20, 30, 40 years, I mean, who can beat that? That’s a pretty good deal. We’re all trying to reach the same goal. We want to go to heaven.
   I say that what we’re living through is a plan for your retirement. What you put in is what you get out. If you don’t invest well, you’re going to be old and broke. Or in a hellfire, however you want to be.
   For me after Ramadan, I have a sense of renewal. I feel a lot stronger. I feel like I can get through any temptation, or any bouts of anger. Or take a different road to dealing with a certain situation. For me, during Ramadan, I feel like nothing can touch me, like I’m almost invincible.

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