Ask most people what resilience looks like, and they will describe something athletic: a person knocked down who gets back up, brushes herself off, and keeps going. Words like grit, toughness, and bounce-back come to mind. In popular imagination, resilience is a display of strength.

Ramadan reminds us that rejuvenation comes from where we are. We realize we can make it through a day - and eventually a month! — of fasting when it seems otherwise impossible. We acknowledge our existing strengths and capabilities to build personal spiritual revival. This translates into work as activists to meet others where they are, recognize their capacity, and their aspirations.

During the volatile years following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, when soldiers and militias filled the roads, the veil literally saved my life. One scorching afternoon, a furious soldier stopped me; only when I covered my head did his posture change. “Excuse me, Sister,” he said, handing back my documents.

One of the most impactful aspects of the CWFL Fellowship was its thoughtful engagement with the relationship between faith and leadership. The program moved beyond viewing spirituality as a private matter and instead highlighted how faith traditions can actively inform inclusive leadership, peace building, and principled decision-making.