Your Favorite Sacred Places

Continued from page 2

What you said:
A ‘Mini-Lourdes’ in North Wales
A Spiritual Shack in the Woods
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
A Hill Near the Hand of God
The World as a Sacred Spot
Singing on the Sea of Galilee
Civil War Site is Weeping Ground
The US—a ‘Biblical Promise Land’
Gratitude in Cambodia

Civil War Site is Weeping Ground
I stood on what is called sacred ground on Flank Road, in Fredericksburg, Va. I was told by a Civil War historian that on the very spot that I was standing people claim to hear screams of the soldiers who died in this bloody battle once a year on its anniversary.

His words didn’t affect me; it was a beautiful, sunny day and the story wasn’t believable to me. However, as I walked among the trees and noticed the still apparent trenches around the field, I bent down and touched the ground and said a prayer for those whose bones had never been unearthed.

The grass was dry when I placed my hand upon it, and when I removed it from the place I had rested it to pray the grass appeared dewy—for about a foot around the area—as if tears had welled up from the ground.

Perhaps those spirits don’t rest as they should, maybe they do wail, still crying out in thankfulness for being tenderly remembered.

–Pam Malafronte

The U.S.—a ‘Biblical Promise Land’
In the 1950's and 60's I was in the Air Force, stationed in Okinawa and later in Korea. I had my most life-changing time in Korea; in 1957 in Okinawa, my religious experience began.

People in this country cannot believe that people actually live the way they do although they see it on television. We have such a high standard of living (even at the lowest levels) that we find it inconceivable. I have never returned to those places but I have often had reflective moments of the people there living in pole houses (one room) on the edge of a rice paddy.

They rise at sun-up, have a bowl of rice and tea, and climb down to work all day in the paddy. The lucky ones had an ox to pull the plows but most often the humans were the ox. Pregnant women worked until they give birth and strapped the new born on their backs and continued working.

Ever since, I have believed the United States to be the biblical Promised Land.

–"WILPOPS"

Gratitude in Cambodia
There are some moments that break your heart open a breath wider. That is what happened when I visited Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

I saw spectacular sites, but more deeply, I came to see the beauty, grace, and generosity of Cambodia and its people. Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in Asia and its history is scarred with many bitter struggles up to the recent genocide of Pol Pot’s regime. We held out U.S. bills to give the poverty-stricken children.

As we gave bills to them, what struck me was not one child ever took anything… they didn’t try to grab and snatch. Before they took what was offered, every single child would put their hands together in prayer, in namaste, and say, "I wish for you a happy life."

This wish came from the depths and souls of children who have nothing, not even shoes, wishing for you happiness, long life, success in your business, comfort in your home.

–Cora Wen