Sunday, September 22, 2013

We Need Sacred Spaces as much as We Need the Gym

There are just a few things I would like to suggest airports around the world offer i
finding sacred spaces in flight addition to the food and duty free shopping. First of all, I would like a gym. How much happier would passengers be if they could release endorphins and run a few miles during that three hour layover?
I would also like a yoga studio: just imagine dropping your heavy carry-on luggage to stretch your cramped muscles and relax your mind in preparation for the flight. Yes please! Ok, perhaps I’m asking for a lot. I should commend the airports I traveled through this week on one very important amenity they offered: sacred space.

Where Do You Meet God?

People have been building, honoring, and warring over sacred space since the beginning of time. Clearly there is something significant about calling a location, whether it is a sandy beach or a beautiful cathedral, a place of worship. Many religions feel the need to create elaborate structures to create the most glorious house for God, while others may feel the most sacred space is nature as it was made by the creator.
Interestingly enough, both of these kinds of places are really significant to me. You could say I have a very aesthetic and environmental relationship with God. Not that my relationship with God depends on these things, but that I am further able to connect to God through significant environments, so I seek them.

Sacred Spaces in Flight

Newark Airport Chapel
Newark Airport Chapel
That is why Thursday afternoon when I ended up in the airport in Newark, NJ, for a fairly long layover (en route to Vietnam), I decided to look for a prayer or meditation room. Many people don’t realize that a lot of airports have these rooms. I walked by the one in Newark three times before finding it.
There was a little door with a small sign above it, very easy to miss. But thankfully a nice officer pointed me in the right direction. I walked into the room, which was warmer than the rest of the airport, and was greeted by the American flag and New Jersey flag, a monument to 9/11, and a large white unadorned alter in front of several rows of chairs.
In one corner there was a small alter dedicated to Jesus, and another corner a small collection of prayer rugs were left for use. The room was no bigger than an average bedroom, but sufficient enough for a quiet escape from this bustling airport. As the sounds of babies crying and security alarms became muffled by distance and separation, I sat in one of the chairs to read and pray.
It’s really remarkable to be in a room that visually and symbolically creates the kind of world that God desires: a world where every person can worship and reach out to God in their own way. A world where different faith traditions are respected, and a world where spirituality is prioritized within our busy days.

The Diversity of Praying Travelers

While in the room, which was empty when I got there, five different people entered so that by the time I left it seemed like a very busy place. As I continue praying, I was moved by the diversity in the room, not only in appearance or ethnicity but in use: one man knelt before Jesus, another woman and I sat and prayed silently, another man lay down behind the chairs, while another bowed repeatedly. I am so happy I was there to witness this room in use.
Hong Kong Airport
Newark Airport
But then I was back on another plane and made the very long flight from Newark to Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, I had a five hour layover, so I walked around the very large and interesting airport for a while before I ventured towards my terminal. While looking around I made note that there were several “Prayer and Meditation” rooms throughout the airport.
Once I got to my terminal, I found a nearby sacred space, and decided to check it out. Located close to the bathroom this one had two fire safety doors. I went three steps down, and it was much colder than the rest of the airport. Stepping through the doors it looked like I was going someplace I wasn’t supposed to.

Prayer and a Shower Anyone?

When I opening the final door, I found a small white cube shaped room with a tile floor, 1 bench, 1 shelf and a shower (hmmm?), which was partitioned from the rest of the room. There was also a plaque on the wall which explained the room’s purpose as an interfaith sacred space. In this bubble of a room I couldn’t hear anything else in the airport and felt at peace in a very private place.
The white walls and scarcity of the room reminded me of heaven’s waiting room as I imagined it as a child. As my muscles were very cramped from the 16 hour flight, I did some yoga. I did not take a shower, although it was tempting, sort of. I prayed that the rest of my journey would be safe, as by this time I was really tired and couldn’t think of much else to pray about.
Before returning to my terminal to fly to Vietnam I felt very grateful. I’m grateful that I found sacred spaces in all the airports to refresh my spirit and recompose my energy. Also, witnessing many people sincerely using the interfaith chapels regenerates my faith in the human spirit. I guess I also got my work out after all; as if walking through all the airports was not enough.
*This post has been reblogged from Faith Fusion 

Jasmine's journey to Vietnam


I am so excited to be writing from the other side of the world! If I had a globe I could put my finger on my home town (Manchester, NH!) and a finger on Vietnam, and be able to split the globe in half by the line formed by my fingers. In other words, I’m pretty far away from home.
Home is a small city in NH, where my family has lived the last 18 years. We didn’t always live there though: I was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and have moved seven times throughout my life not including college. Thats 3 houses, 2 condos, and 3 apartments. My family consists of my two parents, me, an older brother, and a younger brother. Currently we have two cats, a guinea pig and a rabbit. 
I’ll be spending from September to December in Vietnam. I’m starting my journey in Ho Chi Mihn City, where I will spend the next three weeks. After that, I’ll be traveling to northern Vietnam and spending 10 weeks in Hanoi. I’ll also be taking some excursions into surrounding areas, and spending a week in the central district.

I am a Gilman International Scholarship recipient which means I have been awarded monetary support in order to reach my potential as a world traveller! The Gilman program helps many college students like me all study or intern all over the world. I am so grateful to this program because I would not have been able to come to Vietnam without it. 

In addition to going to Vietnam, I’ve also had other opportunities to travel! I am a dual citizen with the United States and Australia, so my family and I visited Australia when I was 14. I went to London in Great Britain for three weeks to study theater with fourteen other students from my school. Three years ago I went to Cape Town, South Africa to volunteer as an HIV/AIDS educator. Most recently, I went to Mexico on vacation with my fiancĂ© and his family. I really love traveling and hope to have more opportunities to do so throughout my life! 

- See more at: http://www.reachtheworld.org/jasmines-journey-vietnam/journal/meet-jasmine?page=2#sthash.OpDW0QSm.dpuf

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Getting Crafty!

I've recently gone on a jewelry making binge! Here are some of my creations:






Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Blissfully Not Busy

I'm the kind of person who loves being on the go, thus I pack my school schedule with everything I possibly can. With a full course load, extra dance classes, and as many clubs and extracurriculars I can fit in, somehow I manage to get everything done, and digest anything life throws at me with a smile. Yet, when I got home one week ago I faced a new predicament: I had nothing to do. Slowly but surely I filled my schedule with organizing my room, seeing friends, movies with Mom, and sharing books with my brothers. I admit, I forgot how enjoyable relaxing can be!

my summer reading list 
However since I can't stand sitting still, I prefer having a to do list of relaxing activities.
Here is part of my to do list for the next few weeks:
--Read all those books I'm to tired to read during the school year
--Organize the attic!
--Do something great for Father's day
--Reunite with my high school friends
--Bake something delicious for my family
--Cook myself yummy vegetarian foods
--Fix the sewing machine
--Sew something
--Work on my screenplay
--Find more pieces to complete my tea set

thats all for now, but I'm sure I'll find more things to fill my current blissfully not busy schedule!

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Monday, June 4, 2012

Horrors we hide

Horrors we hide

"Would Americans eat less meat, and would animals be treated more humanely, if slaughterhouses were made with glass walls and we all could see the monstrous killing apparatus at work?"


Would we buy goods made from slavery if we knew the individuals who made them?


Would we look a child in the eye and say, your pain is worth my cheap $12 dress from Forever21?


We don't even have to close our eyes or turn our backs, society does that for us by hiding atrocities with glamourous products, and delicious foods. 

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Dance



"Dance is bigger than the physical body. Think bigger than that. When you extend your arm, it doesn't stop at the end of your fingers, because you're dancing bigger than that: you're dancing spirit." -Judith Jamison