40. Report - Special women

Also on the way through Wayanad are some wayside shrines with sculptures of Mary, the mother of Jesus. They look beautiful and well cared for.

But, it is no longer so important to me to adore or worship a holy person. I also find Mary in her theological role as the mother of God far too theoretical today.

Suddenly, the understanding of Mary deepens: not to adore or venerate, but to internalize the sacred qualities of this person. Thank you Maria for your unique example! But - no more please-please-prayers. I have to try myself to give birth to the divine in me.

Even if it's difficult as a Christian to be like Jesus and Mary, I still don't want to be falsely humble: We have to work on becoming like God, otherwise we'll remain captives, sheep, spiritually superficial people.

I thank Hinduism for manifold inspirations and support. Even the seemingly terrible goddesses of destruction like Kali - they must be. Also in my life I have to constantly destroy something - every little desire has to stop in order to get close to the divine presence. The attributes of all saints and deities are a personal invitation to unfold them in our own existence.

At the next wayside shrine with Mary, I try to pray the traditional Catholic prayer "Ave Maria" differently: "Hail, my holy self". - It works. Only partially, but I feel more liberated. Thank you Mary for your great example.

But in the evening there is another woman. At the hotel. The diocesan procurator brought me here. Next to her is an interesting man who begins an attentive conversation and is amazed at this pilgrimage. In the end my eyes fall on the woman again; she wears a Sari and must be Hindu. She doesn't speak English and Yes it's his mother. I tell him that she looks very beautiful. He smiles. His mother has now become a nun and meditates a lot. She looks at me. She might be older than me. But her face: so clear and peaceful, deep and clean. Maybe her name is Mary?!