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 Unseen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Unseen. Show all posts

Monday, February 4, 2019

Unseen


unseen

the one who is unseen is...

unknown 
unhugged     
unheard 
unhopeful

unapproved
unappreciated  
unaccepted   
unvalued  

unhappy
unconsulted
uninformed  
unincluded

those who don't see are...

uninterested  
unthoughtful
unexcited
unaware

the one who is unseen feels...

interrupted 
ignored
inferior

incompetent
insignificant
incapable

misunderstood
paralyzed
anxious
misinterpreted

stifled
suppressed
small
slandered

an actor
fearful

tolerated
tense
disappointed

______________


Jesus wept.
Jesus saw the blind man.
Jesus knew their thoughts.
Jesus asked.
Jesus went with them.
Jesus heard.
Jesus marveled.
Jesus had compassion.
Jesus looked.
Jesus touched.
Jesus walked with them.
Jesus blessed.
Jesus felt.
Jesus prayed.

"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you....as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." 
Luke 6:27 - 28, 31. 

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