I've been away for the past several weeks...at least I’ve been away from “Hidden Lunch Boxes”. Several things have been going on. I’ve been helping acclimate our (new) pastor to his service at First Baptist Church, Winona.
My siblings and I also continue the “process of processing” our parents earthly belongings. That continues to be a “process” that “keeps on getting...”. I encourage you NOT to make an assumption about this statement. It has several meanings for me.....
The past several weeks has also held a “mountaintop” experience”; literally and figuratively. I mentioned in a previous blog my involvement with the Mississippi Singing Churchmen. I joined this organization when Judy and I returned to Mississippi almost twenty-two years ago.
The Mississippi Singing Churchmen are about singing. The Mississippi Singing Churchmen are also about missions; missions support and missions action. Its missions action includes sponsoring international mission efforts. The most recent international work was a few weeks ago to the country of Peru. Our group had worked there previously and this was a continuation of that work.
Several of us from the larger group departed a couple of days ahead so we could visit various Inca ruins in Peru prior to the beginning of our mission work. The “pinnacle” experience was a visit to one of the “wonders of the world”, the ruins of Machu Picchu. It was truly a wondrous experience.
Our guide was educational and communicated clearly. The design and engineering details of Machu Picchu were fascinating. The work of the ancient Incas would rival that of other ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians.
However, my visit has left me with larger questions. My questions are the same questions that visitors to Machu Picchu have asked and continue to ask. First, why did the Incas build it? Scholars can strongly speculate the reasons why Machu Picchu was constructed. It obviously was a sacred site for the Incas. Although that sacredness is understood there is still question as to why it was built.
The setting of Machu Picchu brings another question. To reduce the journey to Machu Picchu with the lone description of “scenic” is a massive understatement. It’s like saying the Pacific Ocean is a big lake or the Grand Canyon is a big hole in the ground. Description is inadaquate.
Machu Picchu is atop a mountain in the Peruvian Andes. It is a single mountain among scores of mountains in the same area. The mountains are similar and the one on which it is built is not the highest. So the second question is “why that particular mountain top?” “Why out of all the possible mountains was that particular mountain designate for Machu Picchu?
For me these questions will remain unanswered. It is not the purpose of this post to answer these questions much less exhaust the considered responses. However, part of my mountaintop experience at Machu Picchu is searching these unanswerable questions and taking on their challenge to my thought.
Another reason my journey to Machu Picchu was such a “mountaintop experience” was because it was my 50th birthday. It was totally coincidental that we visited Machu Picchu on this particular day. It proved to be most memorable. My only stated regret was that I was not with my family. However, I was with a great group of friends.
In the days leading up to our departure I asked myself several times, “I wonder how many people have celebrated their 50th birthday at Machu Picchu”? I am aware with the masses that have visited any number of individuals might have celebrated significant birthdays at Machu Picchu.
I do know of one other individual who celebrated a significant birthday at Machu Picchu. Our group was standing on the sidewalk in front of our hotel in Aguas Calientes. One of our group pulled out a bag of “50th Birthday Stuff” my family had asked him to smuggle. I adorned the various paraphernalia and our group begin to take pictures.
At this point II saw a lady cross the railroad track/street. (Yes..the street has a train that runs through it.) She walked up to our group, and addressed me. “Is this your birthday?’ “Yes it is” I responded. “And you are going to Machu Picchu for your birthday?” “I am” I responded.
This lady, whose name I don’t recall, stated how the previous day was her birthday and she and her husband celebrated it by hiking into Machu Picchu for a sunrise visit. I certainly was elated at the coincidence.
She then asked my age. I responded I was turning 50 years old. It then became a great coincidence that she had turned 50 years old the day before at Machu Picchu. I remembered asking myself about others celebrating significant birthdays at Machu Picchu and I rejoiced at the coincidence. It added to my “mountaintop experience”.
“Mountaintop Experiences”. A great blessing! They should be counted as such. “Down in the valley”. A great blessing! Yes, the valleys are low. However, the valley is where you find the river. Perhaps I will learn to always take peace that no matter where I am, God remains.
My siblings and I also continue the “process of processing” our parents earthly belongings. That continues to be a “process” that “keeps on getting...”. I encourage you NOT to make an assumption about this statement. It has several meanings for me.....
The past several weeks has also held a “mountaintop” experience”; literally and figuratively. I mentioned in a previous blog my involvement with the Mississippi Singing Churchmen. I joined this organization when Judy and I returned to Mississippi almost twenty-two years ago.
The Mississippi Singing Churchmen are about singing. The Mississippi Singing Churchmen are also about missions; missions support and missions action. Its missions action includes sponsoring international mission efforts. The most recent international work was a few weeks ago to the country of Peru. Our group had worked there previously and this was a continuation of that work.
Several of us from the larger group departed a couple of days ahead so we could visit various Inca ruins in Peru prior to the beginning of our mission work. The “pinnacle” experience was a visit to one of the “wonders of the world”, the ruins of Machu Picchu. It was truly a wondrous experience.
Our guide was educational and communicated clearly. The design and engineering details of Machu Picchu were fascinating. The work of the ancient Incas would rival that of other ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians.
However, my visit has left me with larger questions. My questions are the same questions that visitors to Machu Picchu have asked and continue to ask. First, why did the Incas build it? Scholars can strongly speculate the reasons why Machu Picchu was constructed. It obviously was a sacred site for the Incas. Although that sacredness is understood there is still question as to why it was built.
The setting of Machu Picchu brings another question. To reduce the journey to Machu Picchu with the lone description of “scenic” is a massive understatement. It’s like saying the Pacific Ocean is a big lake or the Grand Canyon is a big hole in the ground. Description is inadaquate.
Machu Picchu is atop a mountain in the Peruvian Andes. It is a single mountain among scores of mountains in the same area. The mountains are similar and the one on which it is built is not the highest. So the second question is “why that particular mountain top?” “Why out of all the possible mountains was that particular mountain designate for Machu Picchu?
For me these questions will remain unanswered. It is not the purpose of this post to answer these questions much less exhaust the considered responses. However, part of my mountaintop experience at Machu Picchu is searching these unanswerable questions and taking on their challenge to my thought.
Another reason my journey to Machu Picchu was such a “mountaintop experience” was because it was my 50th birthday. It was totally coincidental that we visited Machu Picchu on this particular day. It proved to be most memorable. My only stated regret was that I was not with my family. However, I was with a great group of friends.
In the days leading up to our departure I asked myself several times, “I wonder how many people have celebrated their 50th birthday at Machu Picchu”? I am aware with the masses that have visited any number of individuals might have celebrated significant birthdays at Machu Picchu.
I do know of one other individual who celebrated a significant birthday at Machu Picchu. Our group was standing on the sidewalk in front of our hotel in Aguas Calientes. One of our group pulled out a bag of “50th Birthday Stuff” my family had asked him to smuggle. I adorned the various paraphernalia and our group begin to take pictures.
At this point II saw a lady cross the railroad track/street. (Yes..the street has a train that runs through it.) She walked up to our group, and addressed me. “Is this your birthday?’ “Yes it is” I responded. “And you are going to Machu Picchu for your birthday?” “I am” I responded.
This lady, whose name I don’t recall, stated how the previous day was her birthday and she and her husband celebrated it by hiking into Machu Picchu for a sunrise visit. I certainly was elated at the coincidence.
She then asked my age. I responded I was turning 50 years old. It then became a great coincidence that she had turned 50 years old the day before at Machu Picchu. I remembered asking myself about others celebrating significant birthdays at Machu Picchu and I rejoiced at the coincidence. It added to my “mountaintop experience”.
“Mountaintop Experiences”. A great blessing! They should be counted as such. “Down in the valley”. A great blessing! Yes, the valleys are low. However, the valley is where you find the river. Perhaps I will learn to always take peace that no matter where I am, God remains.
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