A Date with God

It all started as a school project, trying to understand different religions and what they mean. No matter how hard I tried to explain who is a  Christian and who a Muslim, my little one could not picture the difference between a Muslim, a Christian, and a Hindu. Sikhs were easy to remember because they wear turbans. Honestly, I could relate to her confusion. In the modern world of today, none of us, actually, look much different from the other in the way we look, eat or behave. The only difference amongst us is perhaps the fact – who we worship and where we worship. 

So the next logical step in to increase our understanding was to visit the places of worship. We started with a visit to a temple late yesterday evening, for the simple reason, I knew how to get to the temple and more importantly how to behave while in there. On the way to the temple, we stopped for a while outside a Mosque and listened to the evening prayer. We chose to visit the Church  this morning, as I have heard stories of Sunday service and in the end stopped over at a Gurudwara.

I have been to all these places before, at different times and in different cities, but the experience of visiting them all  together was quite remarkable, as it helped draw parallels in the mind.  While inside, any of these , I felt transformed by the grandeur, aura and  devotion that surrounded us. Each place was so unique in its construction, its form of prayer and the entity being worshiped and yet the end effect on me was exactly the same. I felt at peace inside, could experience  the passion and beauty of the religion outside and could thank God for having us see him.

While driving back home, I tried to analyze if the mission of understanding had been accomplished? I asked her – So do you remember where Hindus (thats us) go to worship. Her instant answer was “Anywhere – Church, Temple or Gurudwara”.

She might fail her school exam this time, but I am sure this is a lesson that will help her pass in life.