Inner Help, Reflection of "Life is a Trip"

We read chapter 5, chapter 8 and chapter 13.  Chapters, 5, 8 and 13, from the book “Life is a trip” are reflecting essay and I can easily relate to them in my live.  Chapter 5 “Searching for forgiveness in Vietnam” was an entertaining reading.  This chapter talked about the war of USA against Vietnam and how it was their relationship after the war.  It showed us the guilt and the way veterans from both countries felt because of the acts done by both countries.   Is fascinating how the American is searching for answers and wanting to know what Vietnamese feel in the present about Americans.

Surprisingly, the Vietnamese didn’t care no more and didn’t want to know about the what.  They forgive the Americans and the main character was surprise about their present way of thinking of Americans.  This reading make us reflect in our life about the things that we should forgive and just continue in our life.  We need to live the present and try to not remember the past because it will always be there. 

In chapter 8 “Meeting Maximon in Guatemala”, talks about a human God that smokes and drinks.  This is a ritual from the people that live there.  People think that he me relieve you from your sin because himself is a sinner.  The main character didn’t believe and stayed away until he understand what was the procedure of the way of the Maximon works.  He felt relieve when Maximon forgive him and he felt relief.  This we can relate to it as the as the last chapter.  But this time we can add that it doesn’t what kind the person that for example had a personal conflict with, you should always forgive to “relief” yourselve of inner damage.

In chapter 13 “the other side of the Pilgrims’ Road in Spain”, talks about the experience people have walking or traveling the “Camino”.  We can understand that this road is not any road, is a special road because the experience people have when they travel it.  Is a long distance road, people start working together to complete the “Camino”.  Is a pilgrim thing to do this walking and serving in the “Camino”.  People had empathy with the others while traveling the “Camino”, they served and help each other.  This reminds me of the way Christmas is in Puerto Rico.  Is the only season that people are happy and neighbors help each other or when you’re in the “Campo” or in a hurricane.  That is that sad reality we live in in the island.  Reflecting in the chapters, can help us understand and reflect on the way we are to others, how we should forget and forgive the past and help others for our inner help.