It came to be that I would participate in the 2006-2007 Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage. For about a week I was part of three million or so Muslims going through the duties of the Hajj. Each sacred duty is outwardly symbolic and inwardly revealing.

Whether it was changing into a simple; unstitched white garment, circling the Ka’ba, retracing Hajar’s (Hagar) search for water for infant Ismail (Ishmail,) camping at Mount Arafat, gathering pebbles and stoning the jamarat, or leaving Mina, each of these tasks has either reinforced preexisting notions or has led me to new truths.

“Ask your mom, ask her about the birds and the bees,” I said.

“They’re different species!” my nephew said.

I returned to tackling my Rocket Double burger. A few seconds later, I noticed he’s still staring, bewlidered at the fact that I mentioned birds and bees in one sentence.