Altars in Our Homes

We all have ‘altars’ in our homes. Some may be religious, while others may be occupational, relational, or educational altars.

We put relational altars of those who are still with us, as well as for those who have passed onto the next life. We put their favorite things on display as well. We also occasionally visit the final resting places of our loved ones with fresh bouquets of orchids and Canna lilies.

We try to show a sense of camaraderie amongst the family members, even if there are some resentments or disagreements amongst family members. You want to show to guests and strangers that your family is actually fully functioning, even if that is only an illusion. This is why the framed portraits will still show everyone as if no sense of segregation were ever evident.

These relational altars also contain many cultural artifacts from our ethnicities, nationalities, and heritages (e.g. national flags, favorite landmarks in keychains or postcards, etc.). Being proud of one’s culture should not go so far as to be overly nationalistic — a tendency that can lead to war and devastation.

This sense of nationalism is fine in situations like the Olympics or Paralympics. However, beyond that, sometimes it is important to live a humble and quiet life.

We put our certificates, accolades, and awards on display in our homes: whether an Olympic medal, a minor league baseball trophy/medal, a Grammy, an Emmy, an Oscar, a Golden Globe, or a Nobel Prize.

Additionally, we might have earned awards like these: a music/dance/art/drama award for best performance/piece, or an award for character at the elementary school or middle school level.

Additional academic awards include: an Honor Roll or Principal Honor Roll award at the high school level or a Dean’s List designation at the community college or university level, an Associate’s, a Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, and other…

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