The Return

A swap of cultures is always a challenge. Hearing the call to prayer, the smell of Kabobs, dust, being kissed by men, untamed streets, a constant awareness of my surroundings, an ebb and flow of permeating stress that follows the condition of the city and country, having to struggle to communicate, being the center of attention almost constantly, these are a few of the things that great me. There is also the excitement of returning to friends that are not used to people often leaving and returning, the joy of driving my motorcycle, being greeted by my dog everyday when I come home, having a house that is my space, the feel of handmade carpets under my feet. The return is always bitter sweet. Missing those I love in America, while excited to return to my life here. I have a continuously growing and deepening love for this place, while my awareness of the distance to America grows as well. With friends and loved ones spread out across the globe I can never be in all the places I would like to be at once, if I am here there are events I feel I am missing in America, when in America there are events I am missing here. These include the good, and wishing I could walk through difficulties with those I am in community with. This is the dichotomy of life in constant return, a life lived with homes, not a home. I must be content in the place I am, not always wish for the place I am not. The eternal creator must be the place I rest and call home, not a location or community.
I am blessed to live in a time when technology allows me to stay connected with those that I am in community with, even thousands of miles away. Being in America for a couple of months showed me just how amazing the friends I have are. To be able to sit down for an hour and immediately dive into the grittiness of life, to not need to explain my current location to be understood. To have friends that trust me, that know that the creator is going to take care me. Friends that are excited in my excitement, that desire to stay a part of my life, friends that I can dream with. This is the beauty of the return, these friends are not in one location, I am always returning to these friends, coming or going. Friends are the layers that add vivid color to the existing beauty of this planet.