Susan LaffertyOur taxi driver offers to give us a brief tour of the town where we’re staying. On an island in Chile.
Four of us pile in and go along the narrow village streets. First, climbing gravel roads to park at the top of a hill.
An overlook.
Breathtaking view of the ocean.
In cold October winds.
One topic frequently showed up in my conversations with neighbors and friends in our season serving in the tropics.
The spirit world.
Most lived their lives governed by underlying fears. And practiced appeasing or diverting evil spirits.
Rituals. Amulets. Power rings. Strategically-placed offerings.
And memorized prayers whispered in Arabic.
Beggars at the gate take their chances.
And decide, whether it means food or death, they’ll surrender.
They’re going to die anyway in the midst of siege and growing scarcity.
So they head to the enemy’s camp.
