It’s Thursday – I’m 3 ½ days from ending my fast. In some ways not eating has gotten easier, and in some ways more difficult.
Eating for hunger is not an issue. After just a few days, I wasn’t hungry. It’s just that I WANT to eat. It’s so much a part of this culture. Meetings are held around food – fundraisers – MEALS (ok – that last example was definitely the FAST brain speaking!) But seriously, it’s everywhere. And the strangest things trigger the desire for food. Yesterday I was in a meeting in a bar (nice bar I might add) and there was a bottle of A1 Sauce on the table – cozied up next to a bottle of Heinz 57 Sauce. I could hardly take my eyes off of them! And yet I continue because I know this time next week, I’ll have food in my belly once more.
When I think about getting food to the people of Darfur, I know how little it would take to give them nourishment to go on. And then there’s the issue of water. Jon Forman who fasted for 3 days on water only just turned the fast over to Peter Gabriel. In his blog on the 14th he wrote the following:
“I’ve just received word that the Sudanese forces carried out a bombing raid on North Darfur today. And then this: In an IDP camp in west Darfur they ran out of water completely. I feel tremendously sad. Frustrated by the injustices and feeling ridiculously small in the face of it all.”
Bombed. Ran out of water completely. I have no idea what it would feel like to have those experiences. And unless I’m stranded in Darfur or somewhere that’s been affected by a natural or manmade tragedy, I don’t think I’ll ever know those feelings. But I’ve learned that I don’t have to relate – I need to respond. I need to care. And continue to speak about my desire to see this genocide end. For only THEN will the world have the desire to help rebuild this part of the world.
This fast gives me the opportunity to talk about Darfur. My experience pales in relation to what is happening. But it is what I can do now. And for now, I will continue to do what I can, where I am, with what I have, in the time I have left.