Today I attempted what some who know me well would call impossible, I fasted from food from 9:15 until 5:06. I did this for a very specific reason and though I was not as intense about my fasting (I ate breakfast after the sun was up) as some I found that the lessons I learned today were worth sharing. I wish I could say I had some amazing time of worship and prayer or that I received some sort of clear guidance for my life but I didn't nor was that really the reason for the fast. What I got out of my almost 8 hours of hunger was understanding.
The purpose of my fast was to stand with the Sudanese for peace not just those in southern Sudan but those in northern Sudan as well in this time of uncertainty. For those of you who do not know, this week the southern region of Sudan is voting on whether to remain a part of Sudan or form their own country. This historic week came as part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 that ended decades of civil war, strife, rape, and displacement, or at least was supposed to. The agreement called for both sides to make unity look attractive for 5 years and then for south to vote on its future. These last few months have been tense and the next few will certainly be as well. Now is the time for the international community, activists, and people of all faith traditions to work towards peace, reconciliation, and development.
It was with all this in mind that I started my fast this morning praying for peace and cooler heads to prevail. I was shocked at how difficult it was to pray and read my Bible at 12:00 and how much my patience with others was being tried just from lack of food. I thought many times, "This isn't productive. I am getting nothing out of this. Why am I even doing this? Is this to make me feel better about myself?" It was in the final hour when I felt like I wasn't going to make it til sundown that I finally realized why I was doing this. It was to understand. It was to understand how incredibly difficult it is to complete even basic tasks when you can only eat one meal a day. It was to understand how incredibly difficult it must be for a child to go to school and learn when they are not able to get basic nutrients. And it was to understand just how unequal this world we live in is.
I went to the supermarket today because it was the only time I had to buy groceries. Most would say this was a stupid idea, since I have to walk there and back and I was staring at what I couldn't have at the moment. But I think it was the best idea I had all day. I had to stop for a moment and recognize how blessed I am to be able to go to one location, less than a mile from my home, and buy everything I need for two weeks. I also recognized how blessed we are that food is relatively inexpensive here. Now think about that in the context of Sudan and much of the rest of the world. On average southern Sudanese have to walk over 45 minutes just to get fresh water and have been fighting droughts and famines for the last two decades in a country where 90 percent of the population subsists on less than a dollar a day. These stark facts throw into perspective the blessed lives we live in the United States and the immense responsibility that it comes with.
I don't know what will happen over the next few weeks, months, or years but I do know one thing, that we need to stand by Sudan no matter the outcome. We need to make sure that the vote is free, fair, and respected and we need to ensure that the Sudanese are given the support and tools they need to succeed, whether as one country or two. I ask all of you to stand with me in prayer or positive thoughts but also to help keep our government accountable to the promises it has made to Sudan for the coming years.
