Photographic Journal: Holy

I enjoy visiting houses of worship of any kind. Today I visited The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist on Broad St. in Charleston, SC.

There is something distinct about Catholic Churches that I like very much: frankincense.

As soon as I opened the portal of this beautiful cathedral with its modest interior of white walls, dark brown, wooden pews, and intricate, colorful stained glass windows, I was greeted by the heavy, aromatic scent of frankincense.

It smelled wonderful! I had to think of the Three Holy Kings that brought presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ child. Incense has a way of quickly putting parishioners and visitor alike into a contemplative mood.

Featured Poetry: In My Soul

In

my soul

there is a temple, a shrine, a mosque, a church

where I kneel.

Prayer should bring us to an altar where no walls or names exist.

Is there not a region of love where sovereignty is

illuminating nothing,

where ecstasy gets poured into itself

and becomes

lost,

where the wing is fully alive

but has no mind or

body?

In

my soul

there is a temple, a shrine, a mosque,

a church

that dissolve, that

dissolve in

God.

(by Rabia of Basra. Taken from Love Poems from God. Daniel Ladinsky)

Photographic Journal: Desecration