the eid

the video almost says enough. this was not a recording (playing through speakers), but the sound of thousands of voices through the loudspeakers of the starbucks-esque mosques (like starbucks, there's a mosque on (almost) every corner). we were not sure what this moaning/praying was about when we first were awakened around 4am...we didn't know for sure until we got into the downtown area around 7:45am, when i saw two men walking together and drinking mountain dews. ramadan is over, and we are now celebrating the eid. we even walked to tutoring today with a bottle of water, and drank it in public. we haven't been able to do something so crazy in a month.

the real question in my mind is this: what were people praying about this morning? were they celebrant? were they thankful? was anyone really serious in their prayers and worship this morning, or were they just glad to be done fasting? not sure. it is quiet around town, kids are out of school and families are spending time together, here and elsewhere. and, you can get something from a restaurant to eat for lunch, or snack on your walk if you want to. free at last. i think, in general, everyone is breathing sigh of relief, for they can do whatever they want to for the next 10.5 months until ramadan returns, next summer.

this was the view out of our second bedroom window this morning. pure beauty. it was ironic to look at such beauty and be hearing such chaos at the same time. his message to us is this: i am in control, and bring beauty into chaos...the earth is the lord's and everything in it.