The Cooling-Down Time of September

Spiritually speaking, the cooling-down time of September calls for many traditions to invite their members to begin to go within themselves and reflect.

This week will start the High Holy day season for the Jewish faith, which we will discuss more next week. However, this week is also significant for other faiths as well.

The Sikhs are celebrating the installation of the first edition of their holy book the Adi Granth. The Hindus celebrated the god Krishna, one of the most famous of the millions of Hindu Gods and Goddesses and central character in their holy book the Bhagavad Gita. The Jains will begin a time of fasting and reflection.

For the past 30 years or more the Huntington (township-wide--includes Dix Hills) Interfaith Thanksgiving service celebrated our diversity. Together we gave thanks and collected food for the needy. The past three years we had local representatives from Sikhs, Hindus, Jains and more. So our neighbors are participating in these activities.

A unique experience that is happening this year at this particular time is the  ending of the Holy month of Ramadan in the Islamic tradition. Ramadan is one of those holidays that follows a lunar calendar. The time it is celebrated changes every year. Having the end of Ramadan fall at this holy season for so many is very auspicious. During the month of Ramadan is Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power that commemorates the first revelation of the Qur'an (the Islamic holy book) to Prophet Muhammad in 610 CE.

Ramadan is a month of fasting from sunrise to sunset. It is a month of challenging oneself spiritually, physically and socially. Spiritually one needs to focus on putting his or her prayer life on the forefront and spent more time studying sacred scripture. This leads to the recognition that one is truly sustained by the love of Allah (God). Physically it is a challenge because despite being hungry one needs to have control over his or her own body, not have their bodies controlling them. One eats to live. One does not live to eat. Socially it is a challenge because it allows one to identify on a small scale with those who are hungry. The call is to help provide food for the needy. The challenge is to understand their plight and become more active in alleviating the problem.

This Friday it ends with Id al-Fitir, the Breaking of the Fast. After the final prayers of the evening are said and everyone eats a date, families will gather to partake in a great feast. It has been a long and hot August. No water is consumed during the Ramadan fast. Can you imagine the level of dedication everyone has participated in? Doesn't this inspire us all to give pause...

How do I celebrate the sacred scriptures in my life? Do I pause with gratitude and reflect on the knowledge and guidance they provide? Do I dedicate my spiritual practice to increase my awareness of those less fortunate than myself?

See if you can appreciate the dedication of others. See if you can take the time to go within just a little more deeply and reflect. Let's use the inspiration of others during this holy time and be renewed in spirit too.

Rev JoAnn Barrett is the Senior Officiant and founder of Gathering of Light Multifaith Spiritual Fellowship located in Dix Hills. She is one of the founding Board members of Council of Interfaith Congregations USA, CoChair of Interfaith Anti Bias Task Force of Suffolk County, a Member of Suffolk County Hate Crimes Task Force, a Member of Religions For Peace Long Island (a local branch of a world-wide NGO at the United Nations) and a Member of the "Dignity for All Students Act" Committee which recently helped this bill pass in the state Senate. She is a member of the Huntington Clergy Association, Leadership Huntington Graduate, Class of 2003 and a teacher of A Course in Miracles for 25 years. She founded a community service project, "Lightworks" including Starter Packs for homeless. She has been Pastoral Care Associate for North Shore, Syosset and Huntington Hospital and clinical director for a substance abuse treatment center.  She has made public presentations-including Stony Brook School of Social Welfare, and VA Medical Center. She is a published author and poet. She is married and has six grown children.