Squares, Walls and Temples

When in Beijing, we visited a few famous sites. Above is the entrance to The Forbidden City. Originally, I believe it was the home of the Emperor and now it is used for governmental stuff and a tourist attraction.

Walking toward Tiananmen Square

I was very struck by the love and care that the Chinese have for their children. It is a WHOLE family affair - raising children. You often see grandparents attending to and doting over their grandchildren. I guess in a nation that only allows one child per family, there are a lot of dreams, expectations, and hopes for that one child.

Tiananmen Square

Our guide this day was a lovely, lovely lady who lives in Beijing. She was so gracious - arranging for 2 cars and a driver, taking us to the performing arts center, Tianenmen Square, the olympic facility, and sharing her insights with us. As a special treat, she took us to lunch for Dim Sum. We told her to order for us and just not tell us what we are eating until AFTER we were done. The food was mostly wonderful - except the chicken feet, which are not my favorite. I was once again struck by the generosity and hospitality of the Chinese people!

Scott, Quinlee and I went to the Temple of Heaven one day - and gave the other two beautiful ladies a day to rest. We traveled on the subway which was a fun adventure. The Temple is a huge plot of land in the middle of the city. The grounds are beautiful and the architechture is vibrant with color and full of detail.

Bike riders on the way to the Temple of Heaven

I wrote this after our day at the Temple:

Temple

Impressive, expansive grandeur
Beautiful colors, intricate craftsmanship
Throngs of people
Musical symphonies
Cacophony of voices
Detailed, ornate but...EMPTY

It struck me how all religious institutions try to erect beautiful buildings to inspire awe and wonder. However, as followers of Jesus, we are told that we are now the temple - the dwelling place of the Living God. How many of us treat one another that way? Do I look at my co-followers and stand in awe and wonder at them?

It reminds me of CS Lewis' take on it: "The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbour's glory should be laid on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken. It is a serious thing to...remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you say it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship...It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal...Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbour is the holiest object presented to your senses. If he is your Christian neighbour, he is holy in almost the same way, for in him also Christ vere latitat - the glorifier, and the glorified, Glory Himself, is truly hidden."

The next day we journeyed to the one place I REALLY wanted to go...The Great Wall. It was a great adventure, but a steep one, as you'll see in the next picture. It was a pretty good workout to climb all the way up to the top!

The most amazing part for me was walking on stones that had been there for generations! Who had put them into place? Who else had touched them or walked on them? What battles had they seen? If they could talk, what stories could they tell us?

A pagoda off to the side of the great wall - wish I could have shot a wedding there!!!