Friday, July 15, 2011

Kaleidoscope Days (a.k.a. Jumbled, Happy, Tired)

Yesterday I was in a remote corner of Maasai--a terribly beautiful valley where the kids have experienced much hunger and a sore lack of education. Yet there is a presence of good there that can take your breath away.

I'm thankful for times in places like that. I'm thankful for the people who teach me about life. I'm thankful for the moonlight streaming into our tent, the soft clean sheets on our camp mats, the smell of the grass and the sound of the wind in the trees.

It's cold and grey in Nairobi, where I find myself tonight. We've come up 6 hours drive from Arusha to get Colin, who has just finished his junior year of high school. (Well done, Colin! One more to go!) We're hanging around in this too-busy, too-congested town so we can attend Chase's graduation tomorrow up at RVA. Chase is a brother or cousin, yet of no blood relation. We've just done life with the Russells F-O-R-E-V-E-R :-)

So we're in this (awful) town but I'm thankful in some contorted way for what it means to Africa--wealth, education, business, success. It's a crazy place. Heather and I stood in a busy, thoroughly loaded and very large grocery store and had a little surreal moment. They were playing "Hotel California" over the in-house sound system and we felt confused and whacked out.

I tried to skype the older boys, who are currently in Colorado. They played a gig in Boulder last night and are playing in Englewood tonight. The call didn't really work but I heard Trevor's voice briefly all the way over here. And I just heard Heather's laugh from the tent that she's sharing with Colin. (It's so good to have him home in our little circle again.)

Life is all jumbled with love and scenarios and voices across the (wireless) wires. I think of so many people and places to hold close and I just feel full.

Full, full, full. The depth of it all is truly unspeakable.

4 comments:

Carolyn said...

Wow.....I can't imagine hearing Hotel Calif. in Nairobi!! It seems you have learned to let go so well that you are able to embrace so much......

lisa said...

I know it! Heather and I looked at each other and both broke into the chorus with the PA. "Welcome to the Hotel California!" Then we snapped out of it and carried on!

karen said...

enjoy reading your blog. Africa has always been a dream of mine as a place to see before I die. Now I may see it through your eyes, and that is fine with me. God bless. Keep writing.

lisa said...

Karen, I'm happy I can ears and eyes in Africa for folks who can't experience it first hand. Thanks for the encouragement to keep writing!