I visited a Hindu Temple for the first time this week with a party of eight year olds. We were met by a lovely older gentleman who, with great patience and gentleness, explained to the class that Hindus have many gods and goddesses, but thirty three were revered the most. The children were intrigued by the statues and asked why some had many eyes. Because they have a lot to see, came the reply. Why do some have many hands? Because they have a lot to do, was the response. Why do some have many legs? So they can travel to where they are needed at speed. Why do some have the body parts of animals? To show they can take on those attributes.
There was a bell hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the worship room. I asked what it was for. Immediately our guide pulled the string and it rang out a booming chime. We ring it before the service to wake up the gods and goddesses so that they are aware we are about to worship, he declared. One little voice piped up, she is the smallest girl who generally finds it hard to deliver a whole sentence without forgetting what she set out to say ”Surely out of all those gods, with all those pairs of eyes, one of them would be awake?” and added, ”Where’s Jesus?”
Like in the ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’ story, sometimes it takes the smallest, least inhibited and maybe the least politically correct among us, to say it as it is.
I’m so grateful “My help comes from the Lord….He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber, indeed….He will neither slumber nor sleep…….He will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore” (selected verses from Psalm 121)