I can’t open newspapers without wanting to rip out my eyeballs. Tariffs in China. Measles in America. Shooting of bus drivers in Lima. All I can say is this: the world doesn’t need political pundits. The world needs prayer.
Instead of plucking out my optic orbs over the headlines, I decided to hike with my group to Cruz del Papa in Chorrillos (the Pope’s Cross), on the southern tip Lima. It’s the famous cross that lights up the ocean at night. But until that hike, I never knew the story behind the cross.
Cruz del Papa was made in 1988, when the Pope came to visit in the midst of civil unrest. Peruvians caught up in the civil war donated metal, such as spoons, to make the cross. Things like power poles that torn down by terrorists were also used, transforming Peru’s pain into a sign of hope.
It sits on top of Morro Solar, which, like everything else in Lima, looks like a giant ant hill. Along with the cross, there’s statues of Mary, Christ and various Peruvian war heroes. The cross reminds me of the one that used to be part of the Musical Fountain in Grand Haven, Michigan, which has been replaced with an anchor. While the hill is a popular hiking destination in Lima,, especially during Semana Santa (Holy Week), it has seen a lot of bloodshed, including one of Peru’s bloodiest battles in 1881.
After seeing the cross, a visit to the Lugar to Memorial https://lum.cultura.pe/ was in store. This museum, a windowless structure on on the Malecon in San Isidro, contains the story of the Peruvian Civil War, between 1970 and 2000, where the Peruvian government battled the Maoist terrorist group named the Shiny Path. The museum (free), contains videos, paintings, and mementos of mothers, fathers, sons, children whose lives were remembered but bodies never found. Being a typical American, more enthralled in the scoring tickets to Rod Steward concert than world politics during the 90s, I had little recollection of this Peruvian Civil War, when tens of thousands of people went missing.
My eyes landed upon this woman, watching a film of a female soldier. Her heartache echoed in the chambers of the museum. Her pain was almost palpable.
As I looked at a display of carefully curated items. A donated sweater, a cracked yellowing photo, a drawing, a jacket. I thought, how could I have missed this? I was caught up in Madonna, straightening my shoulder pads and moussing my hair. But now, I feel the opposite. I’m too caught up in the headlines that I am missing life.
Like Thursday, when my bus-driver wouldn’t let me off the bus until I properly rolled my rrrr’s in my bus stop Pardo. He actually, beckoned me back onto the bus and said, “Lady, listen. The stop is Parrrrrdo.” He pointed his fingers at me, to give the R-rolll a try. It took three tries before he let me off the bus. Or a tourist from Atlanta who asked for my opinion about what color polish she should get for a manicure. “Go for the orange. You’re on holiday.”
Or the birds, the noisy parrots, the blazing red vermillion flycatchers, the colorful fisherman, or the pelicansl. I wonder if I’d lose my keys if I had a mouth purse like that.
So, if you’re sick of the news, pray, or turn off your device and tune into life. And if you brave it to Papa del Cruz in Chorrillos? Buy some ice cream from this woman at the foot of Jesus. She’s waiting for you.
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love the warmth and strength of your words: pray, turn off device and tune in life! Enjoy your hiking and adventures there!