I was born and raised in Senegal, where 90 percent of the population is Muslim. With Islam shaping much of daily life and Ramadan’s fast standing as one of its five pillars, abstaining from all food and drink from sunrise to sunset is a practice familiar to many Senegalese Christians during Lent.

Throughout my life, I have embraced this tradition from Ash Wednesday to Easter morning, including Sundays.

The best of Broadview straight to your inbox.

Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

Each year, I wait for Lent the way a lover anticipates a date. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 30 years ago and know that fasting is taxing on my body, so I prepare carefully, undergoing tests and consulting with my doctor to make sure it’s safe. I’ve been fortunate to receive the........

© Broadview Magazine