Last month I wrote from Australia – the very first part of a 30-day journey. I was awed by the diversity of God’s creations there. I could regale you with stories of what I saw and did. I am only sharing two. First are the Komodo Dragons – socalled because they look like dragons of old, and exist in only a small area of Indonesia. I saw them on Rinca Island. To see them safely, you walk along a raised wooden walkway and view from above. The day I was there it was hot and humid, and the dragons hid under the walkway. Yikes! They are the largest lizards, up to 8.5 feet long and weighing up to 200 pounds. Believe it or not, these bird and mammal eating lizards are an endangered species. As an aside, their babies climb into the trees, and when they fall off because they have gotten too heavy, the adults often eat them.
On a nicer note, Bali is a beautiful and culturally very different atmosphere from what most of us are familiar with. It is primarily Hindu, and I visited two different Hindu temples. OK—they aren’t monotheistic like we are, but their reverence for their gods is deep and visible everywhere. Before entering a temple, everyone must wear a sari. It is a cloth wrapped around your waist to cover your legs. Even the statues of gods and demigods have saris tied around their waists. The carvings, decorations, and tracery are incredibly beautiful. In Bali, if one builds a house, it is required to have at least one “temple” or altar outside. Residents place little plates of flowers or fruits on them to honor their protective god.
I want to share some thoughts about all this diversity. First, the ship: 900 passengers and 450 crew members from all over the world, spent 30 days together in learning, laughter, and harmony. The entire world should be like this.
Second, there were times when I pondered the amount of money we all spent on this journey. Perhaps that money should have been spent on feeding the poor and housing the homeless. It was particularly so when I looked and priced a piece of jewelry at the ship’s jewelers. Needless to say, I didn’t buy it!
Finally, I still believe that God created everything. He loves everyone. I think that although we at Trinity believe in the triune, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, other cultures have different theological constructs that suit their lifestyles. So, for Lent, I want to reflect on God’s goodness, loving, and caring for all the people he created. He especially blessed us with his son to show us the way we should live. So for Lent, let us reflect thoughtfully and give generously to those who need our help.
