Two Sundays ago, I witnessed something which changed my life. I've been thinking about it ever since, and think that I've finally decided who and what I want to be with my life-- the dancing traffic policeperson in Ramallah. Yes, I want to be him, when I grow up. You will too, after watching this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lq_UgswnCgM&feature=related
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
A call to prayer
I work in an Arab neighborhood and live in a Jewish one.
As we gathered for lunch today at work (..which neighborhood would that be in now? ..just checking..), I looked out the window to see 4 construction workers kneeled over in prayer, as the call to prayer bellowed loudly. Such open exhibitions of faith, along side a busy road, and much less, by construction workers is NOT something I'm accustomed to being witness to. ..the sight of these 4 Muslim construction workers taking a moment to stop their work and pray, evoked conversation at the lunch table about why Christians don't near as frequently exhibit such open and public practice of faith.
The call to prayer, which sounds numerous times throughout the day, still pleasantly surprised me every time I hear it. Last week, during our weekly Communion service, the call to prayer was sounding as we recited the Lord's prayer. There was something so beautiful about that, the synchronicity of our prayers-- I bet moments like that are what God would call complete and utter bliss.
As we gathered for lunch today at work (..which neighborhood would that be in now? ..just checking..), I looked out the window to see 4 construction workers kneeled over in prayer, as the call to prayer bellowed loudly. Such open exhibitions of faith, along side a busy road, and much less, by construction workers is NOT something I'm accustomed to being witness to. ..the sight of these 4 Muslim construction workers taking a moment to stop their work and pray, evoked conversation at the lunch table about why Christians don't near as frequently exhibit such open and public practice of faith.
The call to prayer, which sounds numerous times throughout the day, still pleasantly surprised me every time I hear it. Last week, during our weekly Communion service, the call to prayer was sounding as we recited the Lord's prayer. There was something so beautiful about that, the synchronicity of our prayers-- I bet moments like that are what God would call complete and utter bliss.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Evoking a song in a stranger
It can be a beautiful thing when your mere presence inspires another human being to song. As I walked the short distance between where I get off the #22 bus (an Israeli bus, "the only things that blow up around here", a coworker offered casually when they heard my mode of tranport to work-- ok, sure, maybe there's a sliver of truth to that, but that last time a bus blew up was a few years ago, so I'm not going to allow self-paralysis) and leave the world of West Jersualem behind, entering East Jerusalem, where I work, a construction worker laboring in the hot sun to complete the train tracks (Israeli government funded. ..I caught word that there will be no train stops in Arab neighborhoods such as the one I work, even though the train will soon become a daily part of our lives, as it goes flying by, just across the road) which are now the spine of a once wider road through the Arab neighborhood of Shu'fat, crossed the road towards me, and stopped as I walked by, breaking into song... "habibi..." That's all I understood of his Arabic tune-- "habibi" is a term of endearment, often meaning dear or sweetheart. Rather than allow this form of harmless admiration to consume me with anger and feelings of objectification as often the case seems to be, I decided to just enjoy it.. singing is somehow so much more respectful than honking horns or whistling or bellowing catcalls (although, I do have to say, compared to the DR, there's not near that level of blatancy.). Thanks to the stranger who made me smile today, even if it's just because my skin is lighter than his, my hair is now a lighter shade of brown thanks to the hotttt Middle Eastern sun, and I'm a female crossing paths with him.
Tomorrow is another day of work, as most Mondays-Friday, 9-5 seem to be. ..that's with the exception of a day off here and there, to travel to Nazareth with Nate Herr & Ross Weaver, or go to Nablus (that's this Friday. All Israeli's I've spoken with have warned that Nablus is 1 of 2 places they'd most recommend NOT to go. ..but, I went to Sderot, and survived that, despite what some would say. It's all perspective. People LIVE in Nablus, and yes, it's a tense place, but if a portion of humanity has to cope with that daily, why can't I sustain it for a few hours?), or go to Tel Aviv for a Bat Mitzvah.. OR, Friday, I get to leave early, as Shabbat begins at sundown, and thus the [Israeli] buses stop running at 4:30ish.
Dad and I are going to walk the entire outter walls of the Old City tomorrow, hopefully around sundown. Then I'd like to go to the Garden of Gethsemane and visit the Church of the Nations while there. And I just heard about a music festival happening later in the evening, so perhaps some local music will top off the night!
Tomorrow is another day of work, as most Mondays-Friday, 9-5 seem to be. ..that's with the exception of a day off here and there, to travel to Nazareth with Nate Herr & Ross Weaver, or go to Nablus (that's this Friday. All Israeli's I've spoken with have warned that Nablus is 1 of 2 places they'd most recommend NOT to go. ..but, I went to Sderot, and survived that, despite what some would say. It's all perspective. People LIVE in Nablus, and yes, it's a tense place, but if a portion of humanity has to cope with that daily, why can't I sustain it for a few hours?), or go to Tel Aviv for a Bat Mitzvah.. OR, Friday, I get to leave early, as Shabbat begins at sundown, and thus the [Israeli] buses stop running at 4:30ish.
Dad and I are going to walk the entire outter walls of the Old City tomorrow, hopefully around sundown. Then I'd like to go to the Garden of Gethsemane and visit the Church of the Nations while there. And I just heard about a music festival happening later in the evening, so perhaps some local music will top off the night!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
No playground here
Since arriving in Palestine-Israel, I've thought of (and been gently reminded of!) numerous times of this blog which I created before I left home. But each time the thought of summing up all that's taken place in the invariably growing number of days I've been here has crossed my mind, I've been paralyzed at the mere thought. Three weeks in, I've decided I simply need to get over that sense of needing to convey everything, and just start posting whatever seems relevant at the time I do a post. It helps too that I'm finally feeling over that initial transition period, that always takes longer than I'd like, no matter how many times I travel to new places.
I find it ironic that I decided, at the end of May, to title my blog "oneplaygroundofaworld". While I've certainly felt that way for periods of time in the last year or so, in this moment, I do not at all carry that sentiment. The Middle East can't be called a playground (at least in the way I had intended it to mean) when you open yourself to both sides of the story.
While I'm not sure I'd ever be able to experience complete and constant love and awe of this place some call Israel, others call Palestine, and I'll refer to as Israel-Palestine as many others do, that's not to say it's not incredibly beautiful, fascinating, stimulating, sacred.. it is! but, also exhausting, heartbreaking, anger-inducing and so so complex (I'v never felt a situation so perfectly aligns itself with that word).
Now that post #1 is complete, I'll feel more free with the next one to just do and say what's on my mind, rather than explain and introduce (not that this post provided much of that anyway!).
Tomorrow is Friday, the beginning of the weekly Jewish Shabbat. With it comes a greatly welcomed peace and quiet in a usually bustling Jerusalem city. In the early afternoon Cathy (my supervisor at Sabeel) and I will head to Tel Aviv, where she's catering her niece's Bat Mitzvah. Along with taking in such a cultural affair, the Bit Mitzvah, I'll help prepare the sushi and spring rolls (..going Asian is a lot more easy than trying to prepare Kosher finger foods).
PS: As anti-Facebook as I secretly wish I was, it's made it eaaaasy to post pictures of my adventures in the Holy Land thus far! You should go check those out for more of a sense of the past 3 weeks of my life.
I find it ironic that I decided, at the end of May, to title my blog "oneplaygroundofaworld". While I've certainly felt that way for periods of time in the last year or so, in this moment, I do not at all carry that sentiment. The Middle East can't be called a playground (at least in the way I had intended it to mean) when you open yourself to both sides of the story.
While I'm not sure I'd ever be able to experience complete and constant love and awe of this place some call Israel, others call Palestine, and I'll refer to as Israel-Palestine as many others do, that's not to say it's not incredibly beautiful, fascinating, stimulating, sacred.. it is! but, also exhausting, heartbreaking, anger-inducing and so so complex (I'v never felt a situation so perfectly aligns itself with that word).
Now that post #1 is complete, I'll feel more free with the next one to just do and say what's on my mind, rather than explain and introduce (not that this post provided much of that anyway!).
Tomorrow is Friday, the beginning of the weekly Jewish Shabbat. With it comes a greatly welcomed peace and quiet in a usually bustling Jerusalem city. In the early afternoon Cathy (my supervisor at Sabeel) and I will head to Tel Aviv, where she's catering her niece's Bat Mitzvah. Along with taking in such a cultural affair, the Bit Mitzvah, I'll help prepare the sushi and spring rolls (..going Asian is a lot more easy than trying to prepare Kosher finger foods).
PS: As anti-Facebook as I secretly wish I was, it's made it eaaaasy to post pictures of my adventures in the Holy Land thus far! You should go check those out for more of a sense of the past 3 weeks of my life.
Monday, May 26, 2008
A Song: The World is my Playground
There's too much seriousness today
Everybody's got to work and saveNobody's got the time to play
But me, well I'm okay
People planning for future days
But I say live for today
Leave tomorrow's plans alone
Live for today before it's gone
'Cause the world is my playgroundEarly morning, the sun creeps out
And in it I will play the games of life
Yeah the world is my playground
Won't you come and play with me?
Behind concrete, glass and steel
It lights the way to a land of play
With treasures to reveal
Take the plunge, let go
Of all that you've been told
Take my hand, walk through the land
We'll find that pot of gold
'Cause the world is my playgroundSometimes I play with others
And in it I will play the games of life
Yeah the world is my playground
Won't you come and play with me?
Sometimes I play alone
When everybody knows my name
The sun goes down, comes 'round again
And being a seesaw rider ain't the same
Late at night, full moon
Tomorrow's sun will be here soon
Don't you worry 'bout me
I'll be fine just wait and see
Come join me, we'll go
Where no one else has gone before
You and me, me with you
We'll never be alone
'Cause the world is my playground
And in it I will play the games of life
Yeah the world is my playground
Won't you come and play with me?
Copyright © 1992 John Wu
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