I enjoyed your creative analogies here, especially having been to Egypt twice. On my last trip in October 2023, we visited Abu Simbel far south of Aswan in a wheezing bus that we weren't sure would make it. Once we got there, is was blazingly hot with the sun reflecting off of all the stone--probably the closest I've ever come to fainting from heat (but managed well enough). My son, too, guzzled lots of cold water, but that turned out to be a blessing. On the ride back to Aswan, the bus seemed to be struggling even more and the driver wanted to keep going all the way (a four hour total journey), but my son, having drank all that water, thankfully insisted on stopping at the one and only rest area halfway. Once we stopped, the driver discovered that the fuel filter had ruptured--we could have easily been stuck on a lonely highway in the Sahara with even a burning bus. So, we waited at the rest area for three hours in 100+ degree heat with only a single, rickety fan to comfort, but we all maintained good spirits. Such is Egypt.
You also reminded me of the devotion that the Coptic Church in Egypt (Egyptian Orthodox) revere the entire Holy Family and still preserve, as a shrine (which I wasn't able to visit, unfortunately), the cave where the Holy Family is supposed to have lived--the guide on my first trip in 2008 told us of a mystical experience he'd had in that place, even as a Muslim. In any case, it's very touching to see the devotion to the Holy Family that's present in uniquely in Egypt.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience in Egypt, Kiran! More readers will be able to visualize what it must be like to travel and go there. It's also inspiring to know about the cave where the Holy Family could have resided during their stay there and how there is something sacred in that place even today.
Great post, thanks. At Epiphany I read a piece by St John Chrysostom where he reminds us that Egypt is a desert, a dry land where we are tested. More importantly he tells us that when they went to Egypt, they didn't know when or even if they would go back to Israel. St John talks about St Joseph's faith and trust in God. We know the end of the story but Joseph and Mary didn't, they lived it. It has given me much to ponder.
Great commentary and much needed, as usual, Jocelyn.
Thank you for reading, Robert!
I enjoyed your creative analogies here, especially having been to Egypt twice. On my last trip in October 2023, we visited Abu Simbel far south of Aswan in a wheezing bus that we weren't sure would make it. Once we got there, is was blazingly hot with the sun reflecting off of all the stone--probably the closest I've ever come to fainting from heat (but managed well enough). My son, too, guzzled lots of cold water, but that turned out to be a blessing. On the ride back to Aswan, the bus seemed to be struggling even more and the driver wanted to keep going all the way (a four hour total journey), but my son, having drank all that water, thankfully insisted on stopping at the one and only rest area halfway. Once we stopped, the driver discovered that the fuel filter had ruptured--we could have easily been stuck on a lonely highway in the Sahara with even a burning bus. So, we waited at the rest area for three hours in 100+ degree heat with only a single, rickety fan to comfort, but we all maintained good spirits. Such is Egypt.
You also reminded me of the devotion that the Coptic Church in Egypt (Egyptian Orthodox) revere the entire Holy Family and still preserve, as a shrine (which I wasn't able to visit, unfortunately), the cave where the Holy Family is supposed to have lived--the guide on my first trip in 2008 told us of a mystical experience he'd had in that place, even as a Muslim. In any case, it's very touching to see the devotion to the Holy Family that's present in uniquely in Egypt.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience in Egypt, Kiran! More readers will be able to visualize what it must be like to travel and go there. It's also inspiring to know about the cave where the Holy Family could have resided during their stay there and how there is something sacred in that place even today.
“You carried me through the fiercest fire
You carried me through my darkest hour
You carried me and helped me find my way
Lord, be with me and love me come what may.”
https://youtu.be/J1kePLIj4U4?si=XTMf1H4h_xHWBAbr
Great post, thanks. At Epiphany I read a piece by St John Chrysostom where he reminds us that Egypt is a desert, a dry land where we are tested. More importantly he tells us that when they went to Egypt, they didn't know when or even if they would go back to Israel. St John talks about St Joseph's faith and trust in God. We know the end of the story but Joseph and Mary didn't, they lived it. It has given me much to ponder.