Most of my thoughts about living in between the sacred and the profane centers on the individual. Can one’s job require action that is against one’s beliefs? When should I share my love for modern art with my daughter? When choosing a political candidate to support, which are the most important criteria?

This essay in the New York Times offers insight into how that tension plays out when an individual encounters the sacred and profane vying for position within a nation.

“Like one of Italo Calvino’s invisible cities, Myanmar and Burma exist in the same space, contain the same buildings and people, but are entirely different countries.”

The monks’ riots in Myanmar/Burma may be old news but this essay makes me think about an interesting problem. When profane activities encroach on sacred space, what is the appropriate response? How can one retain the sacred within a secular situation?

I look forward to your thoughts.