Ancient Places

For the past two weeks I've been traveling in far away places.  Cities that are unlike any I have ever been.  Beautiful in its desolation and attractive in its repelling rugged contours I often found myself lost for words and even on more difficult days lost for thought.  

The country lies at an old crossway of history and religion.  A major stop along the ancient silk road, this place has been conquered by Alexander the Great and Ghengis Khan and has conquered the empires of Britain and Russia.  Many of its cities began with Hindu roots, became sacred Buddhist sites in a Muslim dominated country.  

I came here to meet with, encourage and offer consultation to saints that are engaged in good work; the best kind of relief, the deepest kind of development, the kind that touches economics, education, physical health, and spiritual well-being.  And I came to be reminded that even in a place that seems to grow only war and warriors good news can be shared and re-shared in subtle, honest ways.  In a place where life and what is called liberty is threatened at every turn and conversation, it is still a place where the One who authors Life and promises plowshares for swords is Present and at work.  I need reminding of that.  And I need to remind others of that as well.  

And that's what I did.  I stood in a rock-hewn silhouette of Buddha and looked out over a city that worships a prophet not my own and I prayed to the One who saves and asked Him to keep saving.  And the other saints there reminded me that He still does.