Travels in Pakistan
Originally appeared on spirituality.com
Recently, I completed speaking engagements on Christian Science healing in one of Pakistan’s largest cities, Faisalabad. This was just after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, a time of significant tension between India and Pakistan. At the time, the Canadian government (I am Canadian) was advising against traveling to Pakistan, but going forward with the activity seemed right. I prayed knowing that everyone is always safe under God’s protecting shield of love, and that God would guide me throughout this experience.
Just before I left, a friend whose work has taken him to Pakistan wrote me the following e-mail: “I think you will find that Pakistan is a very different place from the one we are conditioned to see in the news. I have never witnessed the Science of Mary Baker Eddy’s statement "Love is reflected in love" demonstrated more clearly than in Pakistan and Afghanistan.” His comments suggested that when you travel with that great love of God in your heart, it quickly becomes apparent that Love is present everywhere.
And, indeed, I experienced that Love!
I arrived from the northern Indian city of Amritsar (where the Sikh headquarters called the “Golden Temple” is located) by car and driver, crossed the Indian-Pakistani border on foot, and was picked up by a pre-arranged Pakistani driver. We drove through Lahore and on to Faisalabad. My driver’s English was limited — though better than the three words I knew of Urdu, the common language there. When my driver and I couldn’t understand each other, we called the bilingual man who had arranged the vehicle, and he helped us.
My first full day confirmed what my friend had said about Love being reflected in love. When my host, who is a student, and I arrived unannounced at the office of his thesis supervisor, this professor put everything aside, called for tea, passed around sweets, and showed me his university for about two hours.
I experienced wide-ranging hospitality—from the professor I mentioned, to the kindness of a street vendor who refused payment after he saw I was interested in some oranges. Those experiences helped me feel God’s love for me and to feel at home.
Now that I’m back in Canada, my experience in Pakistan causes me to think that when we see or hear in the news of “trouble spots” around the world, we may be inclined to “write off” such places as dangerous and difficult to live in. But I was in such a place, and saw first hand divine Love’s presence, expressed in the hospitality of the Pakistanis whom I met.
In Matthew, chapter 25, Jesus tells of a King who applauds his people for having cared for him when he was sick, visited him when he was imprisoned, clothed him when he was naked, and given him food and water when he was hungry and thirsty. His followers are confused. When exactly did we do all these things, they asked. The King then explains that every time they had cared for someone who was “the least in the kingdom” they had cared for him. To me, this means that when we are caring for others, we are honoring and worshipping God, our divine Ruler, as well.
When we hear in the news of heartbreaking situations in far-off places, it’s really an opportunity to care for those involved. We may not be able to do this in person, but we can do it in prayer. How? By knowing that divine Love is there, protecting, comforting, and encouraging. The arms of divine Love are around each of His precious children, easing their fears and helping them find inspiration and good. Whether for Pakistan, India, or a problem just down the street, our prayers, starting with the omnipresence of divine Love, can uplift thought in the way required, allow us to take fresh looks at public policy in the name of permanent progress, and help bring immediate aid to those who need it.
Love for all:
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