Watch the Walk

Sometimes beauty hits us in the face. We look up to see the sky on fire with a gorgeous sunset. We notice an adorable child and their antics. Our first reaction is pleasure, a smile, appreciation for what we see. It stands out to us. But sometimes it takes a little more to see the beauty. You get so used to the scenes of everyday life that it no longer hits you. Your gaze slides right past amazing beauty because you see it so often. It blends into everything else. You pay attention to the things that matter in accomplishing your daily tasks, rather than zooming in on the details or out to the full picture. I have a thing for triangular tea bags Beauty is a gift, and it can slide right past us if we're not paying attention. So let's pay attention. Zoom in on the minutiae. Zoom out and see the grand panorama. Where's the beauty today? I looked up and saw the cutest house! Lentil burgers and veggies A favorite kiddo Naan dough rising My house from a distance Men praying on the...

In the president's Independence Day speech, he announced several changes in lessening the country's covid restrictions, including... OPENING THE MOSQUES (but bring your own prayer mat) Well, that was cause for celebration! Mosques here are a gathering place. Up to 5 times a day, men walk to the mosque, do their ceremonial washing, pray, and say hi to each other before continuing with their day. It's a way that the neighborhood shares news, a bond of brotherhood, and maintains their attachment to "one religion". Call to prayer from outside But since April, the mosques have been closed. Since I live across from one, it was easy to see how people were working around the government's requirements at first-- the front of the mosque was closed, but the back was open, and 10 minutes after the call to prayer was proclaimed over the loudspeaker, we could hear an "Amin" echo from inside, the voices of many men who just couldn't stay away. It took multiple ...