In both my travels to Morocco and Thailand, I marveled at the locals’ commitment to their spiritual life.
In Morocco, on a regular basis, people were summoned to pray. ‘The call to prayer‘ was at specific hours of the day (including before dawn). The request came from a loud speaker. The first time we heard it, the loud blasting of Arabic was disconcerting. Jet lagged and awakened in the dark by loudspeakers outside our riadwas startling. The longer we were in Morocco, the more we were aware of the natural rhythm of the Muslim day segmented by prayer time.
In Thailand, Buddhism was described to us as an eclectic religion. Temples and shrines were everywhere. The community would place symbolic tokens in the temple yard. Flowers, especially peeled back lotus, were offered. Glasses of orange juice also served as gifts. Buddhists collected and showcased items of importance. This picture shows Roger standing in front of a temple yard with a large statue of Donald Duck. As reverent as the Thai were -removing shoes and covering legs-, they have a sense of play in their religious practice.
I grew up Catholic. I still self-identify as Catholic. I’m less formal and not at all traditional in my definition of that. I have chosen a spiritual practice that combines the teachings of Catholicism balanced with some Muslim chanting and a daily yoga practice. I believe in Divine Intervention. I live my life journey anticipating an afterlife. I no longer believe in one superior religion. Over the centuries, we’ve seen humans screw up their religion with their arrogance. People use religious convictions to hate. If I know anything for absolute certain, it is hating is always wrong.
Today is Ash Wednesday. It kicks off a 40 day reflection called lent. I have a new daily meditation book to remind me of the season.
I survived the first fragile days of life after my conception (some don’t), and I’ve survived through all the years since then. But one day I shall die. I can’t foresee the details, but I can foresee the fact. I shall die. And I shall go to God.
Does the way I’m living my life take that into account?
Lent is about more than losing weight.
–“The Little Black Book” by the Diocese of Saginaw.
Catholics use lent to ‘give up something‘ like smoking, drinking, sweets, video games, swearing. The sacrifice of a beloved activity is intended to parallel Jesus’ sacrifice. Catholics fast during meals and give up meat on Fridays. The denial serves as another endurance task.
I get it but I don’t. I have often focused my lent intention on ‘doing something.‘ Since my life mantra is ‘in the end only kindness matters,‘ lent is a perfect opportunity to zero in on being kind. Finding a daily opportunity to be kind is my goal. In Catholic terms, I’m ‘giving up being mean for lent.’