Time

Life here in Mayberry, N.A. is pretty good. The temps have lowered, the rains are setting in and on days that the sun makes an appearance, the sky is a bright blue. Today the bright blue is dotted with tall billowy clouds; snow white on top and heavy on the bottom. Almost as if they sailed over the waters to pick up refreshment for places further inland. It may sound like a small thing, but I’m so glad to live in a land where there are clouds.

One thing I hadn’t clearly remembered about this place, however, is time. Here, time is an enigma. Most things take so very much time and yet others speed by without time to catch your breath. But more than that, it’s the amount of energy involved in everyday living that saps me. Going anywhere includes a walk or taxi ride (most often both), the energy to remember how to get there and the language with which to do so. And that’s just getting there J  For me, two hours with the painter is enough to considerably lower my energy levels. Four hours of shopping in the market takes the energy of a 10 hour work day. And yet, I’m putting those together with other things and expecting to be bright eyed and bushy tailed?  Not possible.

Enter my friend Grace. Grace is a beauty that I need to spend more time with and want to be more like. Honest yet forgiving; granting ebb and flow in plans while not losing sight of purpose. Being gentle when the times become tough. These traits are what I long to embody to myself during these draining times.

Times where my mind runs, searching for the right word in the right language (my speech currently is a sad mix of three). Trying to remember how to get where I’m going; all the while I’m memorizing landmarks so the next trip will be easier. If I’m walking, it’s a mix of dodging traffic, traversing uneven sidewalks (most days the road is easier), not making eye contact with men but seeking out the faces of women. And the market! A cacophony of color, sound, sights and smells! It is a feast for the senses yet so overwhelming at times that I come away dazed at the wonder of it all.

All this to say that here, time has a different meaning than where I was once was. In short, time takes more energy than ever before. My to-do lists may remain long, but the expectation of how much can be done in one day has to be diminished. And that’s where Grace is such a great friend.

It’s my desire that I would take Grace with me wherever I go. Not just in these beginning stages but throughout my time living in Mayberry. I desire that she would be my constant companion. Not just for my own sake, but for the sake of others around me as well.

If you haven’t met Grace, I sincerely hope you meet her soon. For I couldn’t live this life without her and have confidence your life would be greatly enhanced by her presence as well.

With love,

me

P.S. On the upside, time with friends is not dictated by the clock but by how much we have to share with one another. That kind of schedule, I’m happy to keep!