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.

Showing posts with label Moriah Peters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Moriah Peters. Show all posts

Monday, February 5, 2018

Standing Stronger

There are brilliant minds, people with like 60 billion years in member care and global work on the front lines, as well as PhD's right now working on developing materials on how to help global workers be more resilient in cross-cultural work.

I look forward to hearing what they have to say.

But I suspect the primary answer is being faithful to receive from the Lord with joy whatever He gives each and every day and be obedient to Him.

Having said that, this song is encouraging.  Thanks Moriah!

Standing Stronger  (Youtube video link)
Moriah Peters


With a soul as bold as lions
And a strength to face the giants
Come and join us in the silence
For the King who saved the world
Hear the voices in the night
We sing till sunrise
Stand, stand strong
Keep holding on
We sing blessed are the persecuted
Blessed are the weak and wounded
This is your song
Stand, stand strong
Stand, stand strong
If the gravity pulls you down, down, down
Or you're lost and want to get found
Lift your eyes and turn around now
Can you see you're not alone
Raise our voices in the night and sing
Stand, stand strong
Keep holding on
We sing blessed are the persecuted
Blessed are the weak and wounded
This is your song
Stand, stand strong
Stand, stand strong
So do not be afraid
He'll keep you safe
Through fire…
Stand, stand strong
Keep holding on
Stand, stand strong
Keep holding on
We sing blessed are the persecuted
Blessed are the weak and wounded
This is your song
Stand, stand strong
Stand, stand strong
Keep holding on
Stand, stand strong

Songwriters: Joel Smallbone


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