Reflection on the Sabbath

On the way to church today I had the opportunity to help someone who said he was in need; maybe he was maybe he wasn't, it doesn't matter because I made a change, I gave of my self, he gained something new. Maybe you can't change the whole world, but if you have love in your heart you can make small differences every day, which really does change the world, one life at a time.

How appropriate that the sermon was on Psalm 103 and the importance of praise and attitude.

In an area that is so maligned with the depiction of violence, intolerance, and hatred: I could walk down the street past a Mosque, a Hindu Temple, a Catholic Church, smiling greeting people of all races and nationalities to a church of my choosing to worship how I believe, no feelings of animosity or danger, and I have to wonder why can't the rest of the world figure out that this is what God is truely about.

The favour and protection of God are the only sure rest and comfort of the soul in this evil world, We are dying creatures, all our comforts in the world are dying comforts, but God is an ever-living God. It is a short and quickly-passing life, as the waters of a flood. Man does but flourish as the grass, which, when the winter of old age comes, will wither; but he may be mown down by disease or disaster. (Ps 90:7-11)

 “God, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” (John 17:11)

All too often “us and them” seems to come more naturally than simply “us.” And so Jesus prays that we might all be one -- not sameness, not uniformity, but community, connection, relationship. God’s desire is that everyone is included in the abundant life to which Jesus is pointing us. “. . . since you have given Christ authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.” (John 17:2) The unity for which Jesus prays is a universal unity -- a unity where we recognize, honor and celebrate our connection with each other.

Martin Bell once wrote a story about this quest for unity, and the difficulty of reaching that goal, and the patience of God in the process. It was written almost 40 years ago, so the imagery for God is very male-oriented. But his point is powerfully hopeful nonetheless.

I think God must be very old and very tired. Maybe he used to look splendid and fine in his general’s uniform, but no more. He’s been on the march a long time, you know. And look at his rag-tag little army! All he has for soldiers are you and me. Dumb little army. Listen! The drum beat isn’t even regular. Everyone is out of step. And there! You see? God keeps stopping along the way to pick up one of the tinier soldiers who decided to wander off and play with a frog, or run in a field, or whose foot got tangled in the underbrush. God will never get anywhere that way. And yet, the march goes on.

Do you see how the marchers have broken up into little groups? Look at that group up near the front. Now, there’s a snappy outfit. They all look pretty much alike -- at least they’re in step with each other. That’s something! Only their not wearing their shoes. They’re carrying them in their hands. Silly little band. They won’t get far before God will have to stop again.

Or how about that other group over there? They’re all holding hands as they march. The only trouble with this is the ones on each end of the line. Pretty soon they realize that one of their hands isn’t holding on to anything -- one hand is reaching, empty, alone. And so they hold hands with each other, and everybody marches around in circles. The more people holding hands, the bigger the circle. And, of course, the bigger circle is deceptive because as we march along it looks like we’re going someplace, but we’re not. And so God must stop again. You see what I mean? God will never get anywhere that way!

If God were more sensible he’d take this little army and shape them up. Why, whoever heard of a soldier stopping to romp in a field? It’s ridiculous. But even more absurd is a general who will stop the march of eternity to go and bring the silly soldier back. But that’s God for you. There will be no endless, empty marching. God is going somewhere. God’s steps are deliberate and purposive. God may be old, and tired. But God knows where he is going. And he means to take every last one of his tiny soldiers with him. Only there aren’t going to be any forced marches. And, after all, there are frogs and flowers, and thorns and underbrush along the way. And we are only human. And most of us are afraid and lonely and would like to hold hands or cry or run away. And we don’t know where we are going, and we can’t seem to trust God -- especially when it’s dark out and we can’t see him! And God won’t go on without us. And that’s why it’s taking so long.

Listen! The drum beat isn’t even regular. Everyone is out of step. And there! You see? God keeps stopping along the way to pick up one of the tinier soldiers who decided to wander off and play with a frog, or run in a field, or whose foot got tangled in the underbrush. God will never get anywhere that way!

And yet, the march goes on. . .

                                               (“Ragtag Army”, The Way of the Wolf, by Martin Bell)

Fajr Adhan Sheik Zayed Mosque

The Eagle has Landed

"If you can believe, all things are possible to those who believe." - Mark 9:23

As we began our descent into Abu Dhabi I felt that twinge in your gut that signals you are about to be very pleased.  After 26 hours of travel I had arrived.  No adjectives can adequately describe my emotions. I had not slept since this began, my body ached from the cramped seating, but none of that mattered now I was here! Abu Dhabi. I exited the plane, laptop bag in tow and my cell phone camera running.  I wanted to record the event likek I was MacArthur returning to the Phillipines, after all this event was just as historic and important to me and my family. The tunnel seemed to go on forever,  but it was the cleanest tunnel I had ever walked up! Then I saw the opening to the gate, a welcome to Abu Dhabi sign and a small Filipino girl dressed in a red business suit holding the plaquard ADEC welcomes our new LT’s, there was a second similuarly dressed girl “Mr. Daweed?  Welcome here is your visa.” It was official I was now in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and working for ADEC. The ladies asked me to move into a line off to the side and they began to collect everyone else. 

After handing out the visa and checking to see if everyone had arrived, they moved us through the airport. It was spectacular, I began to record as we walked through then a security guard appeared from nowhere, very kindly and politely informed me that photography in the airport is not allowed, smiled, and walk on. I stopped recording and moved on with the group.  We next stopped at the eye scan desk, looked at a dot on a mirror for 30 seconds had my passport stamped and on my way 5 minutes later, eyes scanned, we walked through customs, where I was greeted with “Asalamalakum, Welcome to the UAE Mr. Nelson”. That was it, no search, all smiles and we went to luggage pickup, we were given a cart for our bags and it seemed there was a porter for each of us. As I tried to reach for my bag they politely and quickly grabbed it and loaded on the carts for us. The whole time smiling and calling me “Sir”.

The first really negative thing of the trip was when my second bag had been torn the entire length of the end. But that was all nothing lost. No harm no foul.

After everyone confirmed they had their luggage we were escorted down a winding corridor to the parking lot where our bags where loaded on a flatbed truck and we boarded a nice air conditioned bus.  Now I forgot to mention the heat and humidity, it felt like the monsoon in Phoenix as we walked out of the airport, it was funny to hear the various reactions of my companions as they expressed their shock at the weather. I couldn’t resist saying feels just like home.

The bus was loaded and we were finally on our way. We got on the freeway (a 6 lane expressway that blows anything we have away) and headed towards the motel. We first passed the Ferrari land theme park all lit up in red and white lights, and then we passed a huge stadium that was hosting the Gulf States Soccer tournament. Then the first sign of western influence, a large and very packed Popeye’s Chicken, 2:00 in the morning and it was packed.  I think the guys at my old job would have thought they had found heaven! We then passed the Sheik Zayed Grand mosque, what an impressive and beautiful structure, lit with soft green lighting, it was and impressive sight.

Finally we approached the skyline of downtown and found ourselves at the Intercontinental Hotel.  Our luggage was unloaded and we identified what was ours and away it went. We walked into the hotel where we greeted with smiles and welcomes, fresh squeezed fruit and vegetable juices, water and coffee. We were given our keys and a welcome packet and directed towards our rooms.  I arrived at the 7^th floor door of my room to find a porter waiting with my luggage, opened the door for me and turned on the lights unloaded my luggage and turned down the bed.  I felt like royalty.  I tipped the man the $15.00 I had in my pocket, he deserved it.

I began to unpack.  Hooked up my internet, skyped home to let my wonderful wife know I had arrived, gave her a tour of the room, (technology is wonderful) and spoke a while.  I finally unwound and laid back on the bed, it was now 4:30 AM.  Then I heard the Fajd Azhan (call to prayer for dawn) it was beautiful and I found myself expressing thanks to my God for this wonderful opportunity.   I have not felt this good about my future as I do now.  As I went to sleep I thought of something I had read by Tony Robbins concerning dreams becoming reality.

 

“You're in the midst of a war: a battle between the limits of a crowd seeking the surrender of your dreams, and the power of your true vision to create and contribute. It is a fight between those who will tell you what you cannot do, and that part of you that knows / and has always known / that we are more than our environment; and that a dream, backed by an unrelenting will to attain it, is truly a reality with an imminent arrival.”   

Sleep then ONWARD!

The Dead Sea from the Plane

Starbuck ! All is well!

Magic Carpet Ride

The first leg was on American. What was cool was that there was Wi-Fi on the plane so I could make some contacts and updates on Facebook. The flight was full but the adrenaline hadn’t worn off yet and the three hours flew buy.

In Chicago, I had to switch terminals, after walking the extra ¾ mile to terminal 2 to get on a train back to terminal 5, to see that I turned when I should have went straight and just passed where I left. I had to laugh.  This trip was not going to be easy, but adventures never are at the least the ones worth having.

Had enough time to finally shave (wonder why I can’t bring a razor through security but I can buy one once I am past security? Maybe the same genius who advises the Homeland boys advises the economy boys?  Now it is starting to feel like a new world. The international terminal is full of people from everywhere, so many different languages, dress and smells!  Stand in line for security for 20 + minutes to be told I have to go check in at Royal Jordanian’s counter first. Seems the boarding passes I got in Phoenix are no longer valid, new line went fast.  Check-in went faster this time. Smiled and thanked the guy for helping me out last time.  I had to show my passport 7 times to various security and law enforcement officials while in the tunnel to the plane. I am guessing they are looking for someone but no issues and we are on the plane. 

The seats are small and my wide posterior is a tight squeeze, 14 hours of this and I will be one sore dude!  Luckily no one is in the seat next to me so I have some wiggle room once we are airborne.

Can’t sleep on the flight, they have quite a large variety of in-flight entertainment available, I watch Thor, Win-Win, Arthur and an Indian Movie I can’t pronounce, didn’t understand a word of it (all subtitles were in Arabic) but it had a lot of Kung Fu action so I could kind of follow the plot!

Sun came up over the Atlantic and according to the flight tracker we are just south of Greenland, the ocean is a grey green color from this altitude and the clouds look like snow. Amazing!!!

I again look out the window as we are off the coast of Ireland, again over France and then Rome. Too high to see much detail but we were there!  The Mediterranean was so deep blue.  I didn’t see land again until we entered Israeli air space.  Saw Jerusalem and the Dead Sea as we made our descent in Amman Jordan.  The ground is an orange colored barren looking desert.  Hot, sveltely and a little dirty.

The people here aren’t quite as friendly and don’t seem to care if they help you or not.  Internet worked for about 6 minutes and quit.  Hard uncomfortable seats and a 2 hour wait.  Check in was fast and furious, screening was sending everything through at once keep your shoes on and keep moving, worked for me.  The plane was nicer then the long flight. Got another window seat, Nice in that I don't have to lean on the person next to me and get up every time they do. The announcements and instructions were in Arabic, then a short summation in English. For the first time I started to feel a little concerned that  knowing what is going on will be a little more difficult until I master the language. New goal priority level one. Learn the language!

This time I was seated next to a young Arab girl (16-19 yrs. old) who would turn away if I looked in her direction and was very timid and attempted to avoid any contact with me.  Made for a long uncomfortable flight on the social level, but I did notice that her cell phone and typing text messages was just like home! Some human behavior is just universal!  2 ½ hours later we landed in Abu Dhabi.  Now the adventure started to feel very real. Again my eyes teared up and I said a little thank you prayer for the opportunity. I also again realized I was 8000 miles from my wife and babies, lucky it was very short termed. I was in the front of the plane. So I was off first.  Off the plane, ONWARD!

At the Airport Leaving

The Haboob!

Tuesday:

 I woke up at 4:30 Am to check the email for any information on travel arrangements. Today was supposed to be the day that we got the tickets for Friday. Of course the was nothing so I tried to lay back down, but that didn’t so I went to repack for the 4^th time.  Laurie awoke around 7is so we had coffee a couple waffles and planned the day.  She had to go to Walmart and I was in the middle of packing again.  Laurie returned just as I fininshed weighing the bags, all just under 50lbs.  Laurie then realized she had the wrong size and had to return to Walmart.   She left and I began checking emails again, nothing.  So at 10:15 I decided to call Nirvana Travel to get an update.  After two transfer,  I was speaking with someone who could help, after spelling my name twice, the excited voice at the other end of the phone told me Mr. David you are leaving today you need to hurry!  I replied that I had no tickets, he took my email and at 10:41 I received the email with my tickets, sure enough I depart at 1:00 PM today.  I said a very quick thank you, hung up and called Laurie.

“Guess what, I leave today at 1:00”

“What? Your kidding right”

“No I’m not, I am looking at email now, 1:00. Come home I’m getting ready now”

By the time we loaded and got on the road it was 11:22 AM.  Not much time to make the hour drive from Johnson Ranch to the airport.  Phone calls were furious and the  goodbyes short, last minute arrangements and cancellations made as we thought we had more time.  A few deep breaths and a prayer later we made it to the airport in 39 minutes got to the airport. Laurie dropped me off on the curb then went to park I rolled the bags in where my daughter and son-in-law where waiting with Grandson #2.  No line at the check-in, 6 minutes later I am checked in and ready to go.  Laurie had joined us now and we al walked to the security gate together. One last round of goodbyes, kisses I love yous and some tears. A very nice gentleman took a picture of us all and I turned and got on the plane.  It hit me then, this is real and happening.  I couldn’t fight back the tears any more. Another prayer, fastened the seat belt and the plane began to taxi . . . I’m off.   Onward!