Behind the Veil:: August 2013

Living Behind the Veil

I'm often asked what I wear in Afghanistan and what it's like to wear a veil. It's freedom. Freedom to have a bad hair day, freedom to arrange my chadar to conceal the curve of my breasts and backside, freedom to not be an expatriate for a little while. It means freedom to hide even on the street from the Afghan men's eyes which seem to strip me naked.

When I relax my shoulders and walk less purposefully, less confidently, my eyes downcast and covered by sunglasses, I pass for an Afghan woman. I hear the men whisper in Dari, "Is she a foreigner or local woman?" I chuckle but am silent. On the street, I'm also a free target....freely exposed to groping, sexual innuendos whispered to me as a man bicycles by, free to have stones thrown at me, freely seen as no one's wife, daughter, sister, mother, friend, or boss. I step inside my gate, and remove my chapan and chadar. Now I'm someone's boss, motherhood returns to me as little steps run to greet me, and I receive a kiss from my adoring husband. Now I'm free to his loving and gentle eyes which know and enjoy my curves, free to once again be under the protective umbrella of being a wife, mother, friend, colleague, boss, niece, sister, daughter, woman.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Forehead Like Flint

"What does firm faith which will stand against all hardship and persecution look like? (Ez.3:8)

…It is the minute-by-minute walking in the knowledge that He is well-pleased with me before I do anything; (Mark 1:11) He simply enjoys me;

When I choose to make decisions with the perspective that God is my only option…there is no plan B…without His intervention I cannot succeed;

When I am not surprised at His greatness;
When I am unwavering when I feel His absence;
When I thirst only for Him when He gives me periods of dryness;
When I receive His correction in thankful humility;

When I don't automatically assume that "success" is His blessing and Divine favor or "difficulties" are a sign of divine displeasure or of judgment, but All are purely gracious gifts from his Hand and another opportunity to be more like Him;

When I will not be swayed, turned back, or dismayed by the unjust criticism or sophisticated rejection of friends, colleagues, family members;

When I live each moment with all my resources as an "Advent Christian" praying fervently for his soon return, knowing the time is running short.

…Perhaps, in His unlimited mercy and lavish grace, He will use even me to bring Him glory and desire to call me His friend."