Eid Mubarak

Eid greetings from Bangladesh. Tomorrow is the second most important - or perhaps it is just the second most celebrated - Muslim festival of the year; Qurbani Eid. The day is celebrated in commemoration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, and that God sent a ram in the son's place.

In the market just outside LAMB all are in a 'festive mood' the papers will say tomorrow. And it is true. It is evident in the bustle around LAMB that people are happy. Families are together again and that is good.

Tomorrow the celebration will including sacrificing a goat or a cow. For those who can't afford one there is no condemnation. You can share up to seven people to one animal, and for those who are really poor there is the share that comes from the tradition that the sacrifice is divided into three parts; one for the host, one for neighbours and friends and the last one for the poor.

This year Qurbani Eid falls in the week after final exams in schools all over the country. The school year here is from January to December. So many will be relieved that the exams are over and, like Abraham, that they passed the test. For the students there is the hope that they will reach the next level. Be 'promoted' from grade four to grade five and more tests. For Abraham that he will be promoted to the ranks of the righteous.

The man in the middle here is selling perfume; it is special perfume produced without alcohol. He explained to me that it is sold only on this night and that we need to smell better on Eid. As a true Bangladeshi, hospitable to the core, this was followed to an invitation for tomorrow.

I find myself praising God that the Test is complete, that we celebrate the Substitute who took our place. The righteous Abraham is worth remembering and it is worth modelling our lives after his obedience. But there is so much evil in me, in us, in the world that without someone to take our place there would just be another test after this one and promotion from grade five to six next year or worse still; failure.

Praise God this is one exam we don't have to pass.