The Eyes in Petra's Canyon

Photo by Mary Vee

I walked through the path of Petra a week ago.

Petra is located in southern Jordan in the Middle East. At this time, Jordan is a dicey country to be visiting. On my trip, two military police escorted us--for our safety. Well, I could go on and on about my thoughts on that topic, but will save them for another day.

Today, the focus is on one carved stone on the path.

No, it is not the famous one seen in the Indiana Jones movie.

The story behind this rock I am showing you is powerful. It can make one weep and/or stir one to action.

What rock has that power?

Our guide led us through the canyon path pointing and explaining. I highly recommend going with a guide, there truly is a lot that happened here. The guide was a Jordanian, well versed in the history of his country.

At the point where the first photo was taken, our guide continued around the bend and stopped. He turned to his left and called our attention to what was there.

Facing the people who would be walking out of this canyon was this statue. It was about five feet tall and as you can see from the photo had tones of red and sand colors.

Photo by Mary Vee

Our guide pointed out the eyes. The arrows show you where they are.

Our guide then pointed to the area where there should be a mouth. There isn't one.

Long ago, the people who lived in Petra tried to understand the sun, water, earth, etc. They thought the high mountains around them took the sun away at night and gave it back in the morning.

They carved into the rock representations of the gods they thought existed.

In this case, this image facing those leaving the canyon is there to say you are watched by the god represented there. Not in a good way.

Also note the the god does not have a mouth. This god watches but does not speak. Ooo thoughts of Dagon and Baal from the Old Testament popped in my mind when the tour guide said that.

How sad to live a life knowing the god worshiped would not speak to the people. I see the god also does not have ears, which would mean the god would not listen to the people, either. It only watches, ready to -- what? Punish?

Such fear.

Such sense of not being loved, cared about.

The longer I spent in Jordan, the more my heart ached not only for the people who once lived there but for the people who live there now as well.

There were many checkpoints. We could not have anything religious with us.

No Bibles.

No religious jewelry.

No words.

This desert country is dry.

Much much more than physically.

If this stirs your heart, pray for the people of Jordan that witnesses of the Living God can go there and share the Way of Life.

This post has been brought to you by the one word: TheGodWhoLoves

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