Dec. 27,2010
Ok, week and a bit being back home. Dad and I went picture taking today at Lonsdale. I reflect on the similarity between taking pictures and living life. You can take pictures with different lenses, analyze perspectives and come out with several different results of the same object or scene.
In returning from Colombia, I am seeing 'familiar' scenes and people but am able to see them in a different, a fresh light. I am asking questions about our way of being, analyzing our Canadians' way of interacting with others, and I must say that coming back has been a light of encouragement. The Christmas season has been warm, avoiding any sort of shopping mall and investing in true family time. In returning to church, some people are truly interested in hearing about my experiences. My parents are receptive, Keenan and Meredith, Nana. Although I really have not braved many other manifestations of Canadian life (malls, schools, restaurants – Tim Horton's is the exception!!), I have felt the necessary support to not feel completely disoriented here. This yet again reinforces my belief that we are profoundly influenced by our families.
I continue with the tense feeling of not wanting to lose my critical and reflective outlook on life that has been strengthened in Colombia. I still do not know exactly how to involve others in my experience and in Colombia, and I fear losing this desire. However, in reflecting today, I feel an assurance: God has guided me to experience what I did in Colombia. As long as I have the desire to share this experience, I am not alone. I have not done a 180 in my life, depicting the black and white contrasts that many often express after overseas work, however I am more committed to putting all of myself into exploring, analyzing and supporting initiatives in Colombia, and put all my efforts into my next job.
