Meanderings from Milan

Well after spending a week and a bit in Muslim countries it was nice to arrive in Italy (Milan) where I have a sense of belonging and connection via my parents. Italy is obviously NOT a Muslim country although we did see the occassional hijab clad women in the streets. Our last night together with our team was spent in Milan central which included a brief visit to the magnificent "Duomo di Milano" or for those not fluent in Italian :-), the "Dome of Milan".

This is a magnificent old gothic type cathedral that is very imposing and a huge open square at the front that is obviously a meeting place similar to our Fed Square. I say obviously because to the right of this magnificent historic church was a HUGE screen that was showing commercials etc. I imagine it is also used to show sporting events. However, unlike the screen at Fed Square that tends to blend in with the modern design style of the buildings, this monstrosity of technology was just an unwelcome eyesore. Ugghh! The good news though was that the cathedral has undergone a really good clean and it is now back to the white stone that it originally was and not the grimy grey stone that I remember it from my last visit. Maybe the commercials playing on the huge screen were paying for these refurbishments. I can kind of accept it if that is the case.

I was walking back to my hotel the next day and saw this sign in a bookshop window.

The words read...

It has a word for everyone.

She is holding a Bible.

What a great sentence! It doesn't say "It has a word for every Christian." It says it is for everyone. As I travel around the various parts of my region and see the various faiths that are evident in the various countries, I guess this is a great sentence to keep in mind.

I am typing this from the lounge in Singapore on my way home after two weeks travelling. It will be nice to get home to my loved ones although I have my mother with me at the moment who has travelled back from Italy with me after spending 5 weeks in Europe. It's made this return leg a little "different" and lots more enjoyable.

Blessings to all.

Cairo Capers

I guess you know you are in a different part of the world when your car gets cut off by 2 camels that are weaving their way through VERY congested Cairo traffic! A glance over the right shoulder and there, behind the rows of shoddlily built homes, are the Giza pyramids towering above everything else. There really is something majestic about them. What those blocks of stone will have witnessed during their existence! A little further on and the car crosses a bridge over the Nile which sounds so romantic but unfortunately this part of the Nile has rows and rows of modern (?) buildings along each shore and somehow the romanticsm isn't quite the same.

It's always interesting visiting a Muslim country. Somehow beef bacon and eggs for breakfast doesn't sound quite as appetising! For all that is portrayed about the Muslim faith, I do admire their discipline and public acknowledgement of their faith. How many Christians will pray at least 5 times a day starting with a prayer before sunrise?

I had a rather "warm and fuzzy" experience the last day I was there. I had been reflecting on writing something for this blog as I was being driven to the office and was going through some ideas. As I got to the office, I happened to look down at the drivers key ring. There, wrapped around the steering wheel was a small leather crucifix on the end of a leather strap. Interesting I thought. Something to note in the blog. I then went into the office for a training session with some of our people and lo and behold, if one of the young women there didn't have this massive big gold crucifix around her neck. More stuff to add to the blog! After finishing the training session I asked for a one on one with the young lady and asked her about the cross. She said she was a Christian and her family have been for some generations back. Interestingly though she went on to say that a few years ago she had decided to research religion so she could make up her own mind about faith and what she believed in etc. She said after studying the many forms of religion, Christianity was what made sense for her and that she felt truly blessed to be able to have that renewed faith. I asked her how she felt wearing the crucifix in an an overtly Muslim environment. She said that she tends not to wear it visibly when she walks down the street as she does notice she gets some weird looks, but (I'm happy to say) feels totally comfortable to display it in our workplace and when she is out with her friends. Kudos to her for having the courage to do so and prayers that her faith will be a light for those she comes into contact with.

Blessings to all.