Eid Mubarak!

So this is me and what I typically (OK, always) look like in the reflection of my front door. (Yes, our house is basically mirrors.) Now, what wasn't typical about today was what I saw upon opening my front gate to leave. This...

2 Cows

So today marks the first day of Eid-e QorbAn (The Festival of Sacrifice).

According to research, Eid-e QorbAn is the most important holiday of the Muslim calendar. It marks the end of the Hajj or Pilgrimmage to Mecca. This Eid lasts for three days and commemorates Ibraham's (Abraham) willingness to obey God by sacrificing his son. Muslims believe the son to be Ishmael rather than Isaac as told in the Old Testament. Ishmael is considered the forefather of the Arabs. According to the Koran, Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son when a voice from heaven stopped him and allowed him to sacrifice a ram instead.

The feast re-enacts Ibrahim's obedience by sacrificing a cow or ram...and I even saw a poor camel that was probably going to be sent to the slaughter. It's a sad day for these animals. They have no idea what's to come.

So, as I sit here freezing in the cold, silence of the office, my mind is drawn to these sacrifices...and mainly to the sacrifice that was made for me so long ago. Gratitude overwhelms me.

The next few days will be filled with visiting our national staff...drinking lots of tea...and also celebrating our western New Year. There is much to take in at this time.

So wherever this finds you...I wish you the very best in 2007. Happy New Year!