I am not a religious person.
I didn’t grow up in a church. I wasn’t raised by a spiritual code. My Sundays were spent sleeping in, and my Saturdays’ involved work.
Even though I wasn’t governed by religion. I do find it wickedly beautiful.
I love it so much that it’s one of my favorite things to learn whenever I travel. I might not have been religious, but I love to meet a religion wherever I go.
Whatever country I am in, I generally want to visit and learn about that country’s religion. There’s something about seeing people have hope, seeing people put energy out into the world, which is a fantastic thing to watch. Like when I was in Cambodia, there was a Buddha statue wherever you went. Grocery stores, bathrooms, schools, roadside attractions, you name it, Buddha was there. The sculptures on the street provided a safe journey, no matter how long or short. People would pull over on their mopeds and offer incense to a Buddha statue. So every morning, Siem Reap smelled like a mixture of incense and hope.
I absolutely love it.
In Mexico City, statues of the Lady of Guadeloupe followed me wherever I went. Walking down the neighborhood street, I would turn a corner and see an altar dedicated to her. She would be propped in a plastic box, and a cacophony of fake and real flowers would be adorned at her feet. The plastic container would be covered in a bit of soot because a couple of candles had burnt out from the night before. If I went to a restaurant, she would be there waiting for me. She would be smaller, a bit more delicate, with a ceramic finish instead of a terracotta one, but she would be there. At a church, she would be perched at the top looking down at me. Her delicate detail done to her eyes would catch mine. When I went to a market stall, she would always be standing in the corner, flowers and candles adorned at her feet once again. She would stand there just as if she were there to ensure the shop owner and I got a good deal.
When I asked a tour guide about the Lady of Guadeloupe, I was told her presence was always like a good luck charm. Like the Lady of Guadeloupe, saints were displayed everywhere in Mexico City so that people could have their wishes and wants answered. So it started to become more of a game to see if I could find her, and it felt comforting to feel like she would be there when I least expected it. It was a reminder that everything is ok, appreciate all the effort put into that moment. She might not have been my spiritual guide and my spiritual icon, but seeing her around was everything I wanted and more. Seeing that there’s a statue that brings so much joy to so many people just makes my heart happy.
I might not be a religious person, but I would say that I profoundly adore people’s spirituality. Despite being in a world with different cultures and ideals, in the end, we hope and pray and hope and pray. The way we do it is just a different flavor. Seeing that, even when I’m not a part of that but generally appreciating it, is just a great thing to experience. Whatever country you are in, just try to see their national religion. You might enjoy the smaller moments in life, or even better, you might see a new way of what human culture offers.
