Author: theunlikelypilgrim

Technically, I have never met Brian. He is the Lead Pastor and founder of Hillsong church, however last month  I was lucky enough to be at a service in Brisbane where he was speaking. Many Pastors exude passion, excitement and flare when talking about God, especially in the evangelistic scene. What I found different about Brian (other than the Alfie Langer husky voice) was that even though he leads the church and wants it to grow, you get the feeling he wants you to grow more. He wants you to find a way to know God, to be in a relationship with Him, to have an avenue to His  love. His charisma is infectious but his knowledge is exemplary. I never used to buy into the ‘happy clapper’  approach. But isn’t it great that as Christians we have so many options to choose from in order to follow our pathway to God. Thank you Brian for creating a new pathway.

 

Lohri has arrived! The winter harvest festival is celebrated in January every year by the Sikh community globally. Lohri is the New Year’s Eve equivalent and is followed the next day by Maghi – the first day of the New Year. Both festivals are unique and equally as important. Lohri is also known as the kite flying festival – from 6:30am my neighbourhood erupted with Indian music and hundreds of people out on their rooftops flying kites.

I went to the Golden Temple and had lunch in the Langar Hall and sat on the roof of the temple shrine itself; watching the sunset and the kites in their droves fly carefree in the skies. Another tradition of Lohri is the bonfire. My hosts ensured that this tradition was held this year and we had peanuts, popcorn and Punjabi sweets that we ceremoniously threw into the fire as an offering to God. Masigi (Punjabi for like my mother) led us in prayer as we circumvented the fire five times in respect for God. The ritual part was over and we sat and chatted and danced – my Bollywood moves are really coming along!

In Sikhism, there are five Holy Takhts , three of which are in Punjab. I knew that I must see them while I was there . So we got up before the sun, then Dilmeet and I were off to hit the road and explore three towns: Anandpur, Muktsar and Talwandi Sabo. Now, another fabulous tradition awaited us on the road. Given it was Maghi, there were a multitude of food stops along the way where people go and feed travellers as they pass. This was incredible, it was all part of the Seva – selfless service, and I could not believe how many people there were. We had pakora, rice milk, coconut delights and fresh piping hot chai. Everywhere we went these Langar Stops, as they are named, stopped us in our tracks. Literally on the highway, cars were forced to stop and the volunteers offered food and drinks. In fact, if you didn’t take their baked delicacies they were quite disappointed. We accepted a lot of food and the smiles on the faces of the people were priceless. We did however have to politely decline the odd few as there were at least 30 of these stops and my tummy is only so big.

Sikh temples are laid out much the same across all the villages. They each have a temple shrine that houses the e Guru Granth Sahib, a large ceremonious holy pond, a Langar Hall, and in the case of Damdama Sahib and Sri Keshgarh Sahib the Holy Takhts are in a building on their own. These five seats of authority (Takhts) all hold significance in the history of the faith. For example, at Anandpur the weapons of Guru Gobind Singh the final guru are held there. We were in fact incredibly lucky to see all the weapons on display, as they were normally locked up. On the morning we were there, we saw each item paraded before us as the guru sung praises and explained the history of the items, daggers, swords and other medieval looking metal wear. Dilmeet assured me that this was a special occasion and normally this privilege was not available. How lovely.

Another interesting fact I discovered was that most temples have accommodation for pilgrims, travellers and the like to rest their weary heads. This occurs around the world and not just in India, and at a very low cost. Some rooms were only $3.00 per night , so we decided to stay. Honestly, I was a little apprehensive and I’m not sure why. The room was basic but clean and had a bathroom. It cost me $5.00 and they had five rooms specifically for foreign tourists and from what I can see they give us rooms with bathrooms, as not all rooms had them. I was thankful for that given my nervousness about being alone in this huge complex, with a door that ‘locked’ but not really and it was freezing cold. I survived and had breakfast the next day in the Langar Hall. In fact, it was refreshing waking up to the sounds of the morning chanting by the Granthi. What I really enjoyed about the Sikh community was the ritual and importance given to the Gurdwara (Sikh Temple), which is ingrained. It’s not just a building for worship, it’s a place to gather for food, it’s a place to support the needy, it’s a place to rest your head, and a place where all people are welcome.

For more information, check out: http://sikhs.org/gurdw1.htm

Next stop is Dubai.

Yours in faith,

The Unlikely Pilgrim

AirBnB is the way I travel. You have local experiences with people who love to host and treat you as a friend, not a stranger. Mary and her husband Kazik were my first hosts of 2017. Mary is what my mum would describe as a God-fearing woman. She has opened her home for years to people who need a place to stay. Long before AirBnB, Mary, a former nun, hosted foreign students, cared for them and showed them a home away from home. She opened her home through the Brisbane floods, which resulted in some extraordinary tales including accidentally harbouring a criminal and ending up with a dog that was left behind. We discussed her journey with God and her inspiring history of setting up care programs in western Sydney, she even taught at my primary school – ten years before I was there. Small world. Mary is the ultimate host and her warmth, kindness and open heart is what makes her guests come back again and again. Thank you Mary, for your wisdom and your servitude.

Sikhism, the fifth largest religion in the world, with a last count of 24 million followers globally, with the majority in Northern India. In my quest for knowledge on all things religion Sikhism was a topic on which I was completely green. I knew about the turban and perhaps there was something about a beard? Other than that, my ignorance embarrassed me a little in the lead up to my arrival in Amritsar. It is the holy city for Sikhs located in the heart of Punjab, India.   I landed from sunny Brisbane and was smacked in the face with the very fresh air of maybe  three degrees. I can’t remember the last time I was that cold, having lived in Bali for a year. Maybe it was on a trip to NZ in 2015? I am quickly reminded that I am a tropics kind of girl.

I am on a trip of a lifetime to learn, grow and research the top six religions and the best way in my mind to do that is with the locals. I was right and my first guru was waiting for me. Courtesy of AirBnB, Amrit and his lovely wife Harpreet would be my hosts for the week in Amritsar. If I prayed for perfect hosts, then my prayer was answered. I arrived tired and freezing to a warm house, two smiling faces and a waft of something delicious coming from the kitchen. Lunch! Yes! Traditional Punjabi food, cooked with years of practice and love poured on top. Parathas (potato and chilli stuffed chapattis), curries cooked to perfection, hand-made fresh roti, pickle, every meal a different dish so that I can try them all. What a privilege.

Amrit is a typical Indian dad, authoritative in such a gentle yet persuasive way that you can’t but help just do what you’re told. My suggested itinerary for that night and the following day was laid out, complete with a hand written map of which sections of the Golden Temple to see and in what order. I did manage to decline the evening itinerary, given I was exhausted after 20 hours on the road.

The Golden Temple was as incredible as I had pictured it in my mind. A glistening structure amid a massive pond. Amritsar translates to Amrit, Holy Water and Sar, Pond – Holy Pond. Men and women come and take a ceremonious dip to cleanse their sins and souls. The temple is beautiful in the day, but at night it takes your breath away. There is so much to see and I’ve already been three times. There is a museum in the complex that is rich in history and it also has artefacts of leaders, key followers and The Gurus . The first and most respected of the five Holy Takhts are housed here: The Akal Takht – A takht  – seat of authority in the Sikh religion. I wandered barefoot (as is custom) around the expansive grounds for hours and hours, to the point where I could no longer feel my feet as they trod along the marble floors but it didn’t matter.

Only three days into my exploration and an observation I have is that the Sikhs are a very peaceful bunch, which is surprising given their beginnings as warriors of all religions emerging to protect the Hindus from Muslim oppressors. Or so the story goes, in fact this religion is quite mysterious to me. The 5 Ks, Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (wooden brush for the hair), Kara (metal bracelet), Kachera (a type of undergarment) and Kirpan (a dagger).  The symbolism associated with these items of warriors and the holy teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib  either perfectly complement each other or directly contradict. I haven’t yet decided. Rather than a list of commands from God or parables of times forgotten the Guru Granth Sahib to me seems like a guidebook to kindness. Instructions like, remembering God through meditation, earn a living through honest endeavours and selflessly serve others to name a few .  Sounds good to me.

My hosts have been feeding my tummy and mind and I’m intrigued to see where this week leads. I’ll open my mind some more before I continue to share, as my 25 questions a day that Amrit insists on before dinner each night (for my own learning), is still ongoing. This week they taught me about Seva – one of the fundamentals in the Sikh tradition. Seva is the act of selfless service , this may occur in a multitude of ways, one of which is the Langar Hall. Now this is an amazing concept, it appeals to the giver in me, the humanitarian I want to be and the broke back-packer too. The Langar Hall is a community kitchen – a staple in all Sikh temples around the world. This is a place where anyone, rich or poor, black or white, young or old, faithful or lost can come and be fed. They feed people around the clock; all on donations and volunteer service. In the Golden Temple they feed 100,000 people daily. An incredible feat and to see it in action was unbelievable, delicious as well. Modest portions, modest ingredients but cooked with love and servitude. Tasty and fresh. I know because my hosts and I participated. The women of the house, including me, spent this morning chopping, dicing, slicing, rolling and cooking up a storm. There was potato and pea curry to feed 100 people, a lentil daal to go with hundreds of chapattis and even coconut rice for dessert. We tuk tuk’d our way down to the temple, we served the people waiting, we ate with them and then we cleaned hundreds of dishes in the wash bay and laughed and chatted the time away. The warm feeling of the service is worth the time, effort and prune fingers. It’s a day of your time, spent with thankful and appreciative strangers, some of which have no other means for food. It’s not just the food they are grateful for; it’s the smile, the kindness the glint in their eye when you sit beside them as one.  We are all equal.

http://sikhism.about.com/od/sikhism101/a/Sikhism.htm

Yours in Faith,

The Unlikely Pilgrim

Travelling the world you meet people who touch your life in more ways than they know.  Mark Mariani was my coach in Bali, but his unassuming love of God inspired me and now I have a friend for life. He took me to ICC  Bali, where I found a community and he encouraged me, not only with fitness, but in life, love and The Unlikely Pilgrim journey. I thought of him this week when I was in a temple in Amritsar delivering food for the poor. We stopped and blessed the food before distributing it. Many cultures pray before meals of course, but Mark is the only person in my life that would insist on saying grace and giving thanks to God every time we ate together. Such a simple act, but why don’t we thank our Lord for what we have been fortunate enough to have? Mark, I will follow your example and try harder to remember to say thank you to God.

 

“Therese, it’s me, it’s you from 2016.I know where you are, I know how you’re feeling, it’s 2015 and you’re lost, you’re confused and you have no idea what is happening in your life.
I’m here to tell you that it’s okay. In fact, it’s more than okay; you’re going to be just fine. In 2016 you are going to move to Bali, Indonesia. You’ll be by yourself in a big house and you’re going to be scared and it’s going to be hard. But don’t worry; you’re going to meet amazing people to help you. You’ll find surrogate parents from England, they’ll be there for you, hold your hand at the hospital, make you laugh and be there when you fall apart, just like your own parents would (except they have vodka!).

You’ll fall into a cracking group, the Umalas crew, The O’Malleys, Susan, Jean, Jeff and Kim and John. You’ll go on crazy adventures, drink a load of booze and really feel part of this uber clique (okay so they’re all over 50 but they’re awesome!).
Then your going to meet a sister, she’s right up your street, she becomes your confidant and you hers. You’ll share your philosophies on life and love and you’ll be surprised how close you get in such a small time, she’s a firecracker and you’ll love her. She comes with a beautiful family and you are worried about not having kids but you’ve got a daughter now. The best part is they’re yours to keep – I promise. They can’t live without you, let’s be honest.

You’ll fall in love with the Balinese people; you have family in Yuli, Meme and Nyoman. They welcome you with open arms and care for you, support you, Joe and Rosie and the Karangasem crew too. You’re one of them now and the lessons they teach you on life and love and all things Hindu will never be forgotten. What an amazing bunch, be thankful for them.

Not only are you surrounded by a network of radiance and light, but you will be closer to God. You will realise in your faith and trust in Him that this feeling of loss and despair you’re in will pass. And pass it does; and in the rubble, you will find your calling, your purpose, I won’t ruin the surprise, but THINK BIG, beyond your wildest dreams.

You’ll teach next year too! Yep, you’re shaping the hearts and minds of local kids in a village you’ve never been to and they love you and you them. The teachers you meet there are kindred spirits and are part of your life now. You find yoga and you train hard with Mark, he kicks your ass but you’re stronger for it and a welcome distraction in those early months when you’re still hurting and picking yourself up.

You meet so many amazing people and travel the world with them. You will hit 15 countries in 2016, and that’s just the beginning. You meet an incredible man who opens your eyes to a world you didn’t know existed and the conversations you have until the early hours about God, life and faith will inspire your next big adventure.

Therese, I know you’re scared and worried but don’t be. Bali’s got the answers for you and has so many people to support and encourage you. I see you, I see your pain. It’s going to be okay. Trust me. 2017 is waiting for you. Go forth and conquer the world is watching.
Love – You.”

Yours in Faith,

The Unlikely Pilgrim

Today, on this day we remember the fallen. The men and women who bravely fought for our freedom, our way of life and who stood to oppose tyranny and evil. WW1 ended almost 100 years ago. We as a planet, have supposedly learnt valuable lessons about war. Yet today, there is still warfare and the guns are not silent and the bombs continue to fall.

I’ve personally been to countless war memorials across the globe that claim, “Lest we forget “, “There are no winners in War” and “We will remember them.” Every ANZAC day, VE Day and Remembrance Day, politicians around the world speak about peace, unity and their commitment to that.

Their promise not to sacrifice any more lives or contribute to further blood shed. Are these just words to please the crowd I wonder? This Remembrance Day, I was reminded of a trip to Thailand I had taken earlier this year. A trip that stirred my heart and is even more pertinent to me today then it was at the time.

It was a Sunday and I went to a tiny Catholic Church in the town of Kanchanaburi. The service was 90% in Thai, not exactly the bi lingual experience that was advertised. Nonetheless, there is always something heart warming when walking into the house of God. To see the people en mass coming together to praise him. For me, the love and kindness that exudes from the faithful is a miracle in its own right. The immediate feeling of belonging in a foreign land, that is found in any church, mosque or temple. It really doesn’t matter which. The inhabitants of that building offer the world peace and love to the best of their ability. Church goers are not without flaws and it’s not to be said that the saints of the world participate in weekly religious gatherings. But, in that moment, on that day, in that place. God IS love and it surrounds us. That’s the reason I live my dream every day. My job is to explore places of worship, mingle with people of faith and experience new and different cultures with those who know them best. Which for me, is quite simply heaven on earth, a privilege that I cherish and am extremely thankful for.

The perplexity of life, is that immediately following this uplifting service, of which I understood very little (not that it mattered.) I wandered across the road, where an allied war cemetery lies and 7700 fallen lives are remembered there. A drop in the ocean compared to the actual amount of lives that were lost on that soil and countless others around the globe. As I sauntered the rows of headstones to read the inscriptions. “Jesus said follow me”, read one “Thy will be done” on another and one that simply read “Bub.” The last which got my emotions running and the tears flowing. Bub, that’s been my dads pet name for me for 33 years and to see that a father much like mine, on the other side of the world lost their Bub in conflict was a little too close to home.

In Buddhism they pray peace to all beings, in Islam the greeting “As-Salaam-Alaikum translates to peace be unto you. The Balinese Hindus say “Om Swasti Astu” meaning, peace and greetings from God. And the Christians “God bless you” is thrown about like it’s going out of fashion. Certainly in my family anyway (the Petersons know what I’m
talking about.) That covers over 80% of the population on earth. So I wonder as I sip my tea and marvel at the glorious ocean vista before me and I recall that day when I was in Thailand, dreaming up this concept of a faith blog. I think, I am blessed. Peace is upon me. I pray that together we can achieve that for all humanity not only with our words but also our actions .

Lest we forget.

Yours in Faith,

The Unlikely Pilgrim