Reaching Out and Reaching In

Life gets a little difficult at times, even in paradise. I've said time and again that I couldn't be happier to be living in Oman - and it's true. It's also true that I miss things from home, or more accurately, I miss people from home. I miss things too, places and qualities and values from home. It's sometimes hard to connect with everyone here. It's hard to find those deep, personal connections that come from truly knowing someone - who they are, what they've done, what they want. Despite my best efforts, I haven't been able to land any ears with my calls. I suppose part of it is that I haven't really been reaching out. I feel very reticent to open up sometimes, because the values and lifestyles that they espouse are so starkly in contrast of what I see around me. At first it seemed very subtle how different life was going to be here in Oman from life in the United States, or even Morocco for that matter. But things are truly different - and all these realizations I'm coming to are challenging me to learn how to adapt yet again. So it seems that I must reach in before I start reaching back out.

One place I have been able to reach out are a few good friends who are there for me through the graces of technology - notably my girlfriend Amie, my family, my Brother Matthew, Danielle and Mix. Even the smallest of connections seem to go so far, and the little initiative that someone takes to send an unexpected email reaches far into me and charges my soul's battery.

This is by no means a post about thoughts of surrender. Oh no, not even close. I've been here before, in different countries and different circumstances to be sure - but my heart remembers well. These times are good times too. This is where real people are made. This is where real courage and determination come through. This is the point where I get in touch with my spiritual core. And then once I do, I reach back out that hand to the world.