I am the secret that you keep; MISS SCARLET.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

for the greater good

i didn't fast today. but for a good reason.
i think the nurses who realised i was a MALAY MUSLIM (notice how, just because someone even remotely looks malay, means their muslim? arseholes, i tell you) was shocked to know that i skipped a day of fasting. but i think it's okay. because i didn't do so out of sheer laziness or ignorance.

i paid a visit to HSA's Blood Donation Drive at Botanic Gardens. :)
i remember those fond JC days when we used blood donation to get out of class and "rest" after getting sucked dry till econs class was wayyy over, and we'd be just in time for recess. even those who weren't eligible/didn't want to donate tagged along, just for fun! hee! :D

unfortunately, i didn't have the company of anyone this time, and i have to admit, i was kind of nervous doing it alone. plus, it's been what? 3 years since i last donated?

but surprisingly, the pain was far more tolerable than i'd expected, and it just felt as though i'd been bitten by a red ant. okay, a FEW red ants. but other than that, it was a breeze. it felt good.

i think i'll make an appointment when i'm due next, on the 18th of december. just in time for christmas. :)

skipping a day of fast to donate blood sounds pretty reasonable to me, because i'm providing a source of hope for someone else. if you're stingy with the greed of charities who claw at you for your money, this is the next best thing! as i've heard a hell lot of people this fasting month say, "it's all about your niat" (somewhat like your 'intention'. it's not a very strong synonymous translation, but that's the closest i can think of).

personally, fasting blindly just abstaining one's self from food and water for donkey hours doesn't mean anything unless you mean it. even if you skip a few days, but with good 'intentions' or reasons, i think that's far better than being blind being led by the blind. if you catch my drift. :-P

even if you only manage to fast, for example, like a THIRD of the fasting month, but do with with full faith, then i think God will appreciate you far better than someone who fasts the entire month but has no idea what the hell he's doing. maybe i'll get blasted for putting something quite subjective that way, but hey, how i fast is none of your business. i've been brought up to learn to "do what you feel is right. follow your heart. if it feels uncomfortable or wrong, then let it be." and my mom told me that. and yes, it applies to religion too.

religion is a very controversial subject that i am in no position to preach about, but i'd just like to clarify that just because i don't conform to the the 'norms' of islam, doesn't make me any less of one. i've been called a PAGAN to my face before, just because of my... difference. but i could't care less. if you think i'm not muslim enough for you, then just don't hang around me. 'nuff said.

God's the only One who can judge me, in the way i pay my respects and devotion to him. so we'll leave this topic at that.