More than 1.1 million Muslims are expected in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Pilgrims pray at Mecca's Holy Mosque, and walk around the Kaaba seven times in an anti-clockwise direction to perform the tawaf.
Poonam, the lady who has been so graciously teaching us Hindi, is a hindu and I'm blown away by her devotion to her gods. She wakes up every morning and does puja, which is a a time of prayer and worship. She fasts one day every week and also once a month on the full moon. The fast for the full moon is for the long life of her husband. One day, during our lessons, she mentioned something about Lord Shiva, a god, and she spoke of him with such love and respect in her voice. I was talking to Houser and saying, she speaks of him, the way I speak of Jesus. Her husband is a Christian. If she were ever to give her life to Jesus, her family would never talk to her again.
Houser was talking to another guy the other day and this man said that his favorite god is Kali, the god of death, because she is dangerous.
Here we are surrounded by so many different tribes and peoples and religions. I'm often challenged and moved by what people do for their various gods and how they think they will find favor in their sight. So many people sacrifice so much and live in so much fear, devoted to so many things that will never bring their hearts the peace or love they are searching for. Sometimes it's all really disheartening and overwhelming.
