The Good of The World 

This was my first experience going to a temple in southern India. Last year on the trip, we only visited temples in northern India so I was excited to see the differences and the similarities. We got in a line and the first thing I noticed was how everyone was fascinated with us. They all wanted to talk to us, to take pictures with us, and interact in any way, shape, or form that they could get their hands on. I heard a woman screaming, which meant that God was entering her body. When I finally got up to the front, a man blessed me with flowers and put ash on my forehead. In these moments, I was touched by the fact that this was such a sacred place of religion and they were still welcoming foreigners in to their home. Even with the language barrier, we communicated through the appreciation of the God or gods that they were worshipping. In California, I’ve been to places of religion and we also welcome and open our doors to anyone. Everywhere in the world, religion is so prominent and sacred. It’s amazing to me that Churches, temples, mosques, and other forms of holy places open their arms to strangers and embrace them. You see so much evil in the  world, but it’s the taste of goodness that strikes home the most.