Judith Fein In Guatemala

     Judith Fein, in Life is a Trip, writes about her trips to: Spain, Vietnam, and Guatemala. In this book she narrates her experiences and the particularities about each country. Regarding to Guatemala, she tells the tale of how she met with Maximon (a Mayan sort of saint) in the western side of the country. People described him as a god who enjoyed to smoke and drink like the majority of the people who worshiped him. Maximon's followers made pilgrimages to Lake Atitlán in order to pay him a small tribute. Among the items people gifted to this deity were: cash, alcohol, cigars, burned candles in different colors (these represented the type of favor they wanted to ask).

People describe him as a "saint, devil, doctor, trickster, and the grandfather of the village who protected the inhabitants from evil and witches" (Life is a Trip, Judith Fein). A man from the city of Guatemala came and explained Judith that he is a divinity which understands human nature, its vices and sins. People worshiped him because he offers forgiveness to everyone because he is a sinner also. He accepts people as they are and does not look at their imperfections. Here is a video in which you can see Maximon and the people who worship him.

I guess, in the end, its not about your errors, your sins, your wrongdoings, its how you handle the situation, how you make amends which differentiates us from other people. Similar to the activity done in class. If you take a piece of paper and crumble it up you may try to eliminate the wrinkles but it is nearly impossible. We must learn to live with our imperfections and strive to do good always, but remembering that our human nature is ever present.