If our bodies are a gift from God, then neglecting your health for a ritual isn’t an act of faith, it is the real sin.
This week, there is a very special energy in the air. If you look at the calendar, it feels like everyone is trying to reach for something spiritual at the same time. We have the bright celebrations of the Chinese New Year ending, while Christians are starting the quiet season of Lent.
At the same time, the moon is moving us toward the start of Ramadan. Whether you are in Lusaka, London, or the Copperbelt, you can feel that people are slowing down and thinking about their faith. It is a beautiful moment where we all seem to be moving together.
There is something wonderful about doing things as a group. It reminds us that even in our busy, modern lives, we still value our traditions. But when a whole community moves in one direction, it is very easy for some people to be left behind. Most of these traditions involve fasting, which is a powerful way to show devotion. However, for many people in our communities, fasting is not just a spiritual choice. It is a major health risk.
I am talking about our friends and family members with chronic conditions. These are people living with Type 1 diabetes, epilepsy, or heart issues. They are people who need to take medication at specific times during the day just to stay well. In our traditional communities, we have a lot of respect for the fast. But we also have a lot of judgment for those who do not follow it.
The problem is that we often judge people based on how they look. If someone is very old or has a visible injury, we understand why they aren’t fasting. We give them grace. But if someone looks healthy on the outside, we expect them to act like everyone else. If a young professional or a mother is seen taking a pill or eating a small snack at midday, the judgment can be very harsh. People whisper about a “lack of faith” or assume they are just being lazy.
This is what I call the “Invisible Burden.” It is the quiet shame of having a body that does not fit the rules of the group.
In many of our cultures, we pride ourselves on being strong. We have this idea that “real” faith means suffering through the hunger. But we need to be very honest with ourselves: your body does not care about your willpower. If your blood sugar drops too low or you miss a dose of seizure medication, it is not a “test from God.” It is a medical emergency.
When we pressure people to fast against medical advice, we are asking them to choose between their community and their life. This is not what our religions actually teach us. If you look at the real rules for Ramadan or Lent, the exceptions are already there. The same authority that created the fast also created the rules to protect the sick. Our faiths tell us that our bodies are a gift that we must look after. Protecting your health is actually a way of honouring that gift.
The real issue is that our “village” traditions have become louder than our religious books. We have started to value “conformity” more than we value the actual lives of our people. This stigma forces many people to hide. They take their pills in secret or skip them entirely just to avoid the “Aunties” judging them. This is dangerous, and it needs to stop.
If you are navigating that line between faith and health, please reach out to a doctor or a nutritionist. There are many health professionals today, including those within our own faiths, who truly “get” the cultural pressure. They can help you build a plan that is safe for your specific body.
We need to change how we think about strength. A person who manages a chronic condition every single day is showing incredible discipline. It takes a lot of work to track your health and follow a medical plan. That is not weakness. It is a different kind of devotion. If we can see looking after our health as a way of being a good steward of our lives, the shame starts to go away.
To my readers who are living with these conditions: you do not owe anyone an apology for staying healthy. You are not “breaking” the tradition. You are fulfilling the highest part of it, which is to stay alive and well so you can continue to serve your family and your community for years to come.
For the rest of us, our job is to be more kind and less judgmental. We should not assume we know what is happening in someone else’s body just by looking at them. A community is only as strong as how it treats its members who are struggling. If our rituals are hurting our people, then we are doing them wrong.
As we go through this busy spiritual week, let us celebrate the energy of the fast, but let us also celebrate the wisdom of the exemption. Let us make sure that everyone has a place at the table, whether they are fasting or not. True community is about moving together, but it is also about making sure no one is forced to suffer in silence just to fit in.
Let us choose compassion over conformity. Let us choose life.
Kaajal Vaghela is a sportswear designer and diabetes wellness consultant with over three decades of lived experience managing Type 1 diabetes. Having previously served as Chairperson of the Lusaka branch of the Diabetes Association of Zambia, she remains a passionate advocate for breaking down myths and building awareness about diabetes. For more personalised coaching or corporate wellness workshops, visit: www.kaajalvaghela.com and for any feedback: [email protected])
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