So long, 2015. You were a sweet slow dance of a year. You held so much beauty.
Last January, I got to begin my days watching the sun rise in Washington Heights and end the day watching the sun set over the grassy field at the end of my street in South Atlanta. I loved the cold weather - with it’s demand to wear sweaters and leggings and drink hot beverages out of favorite mugs - can you sense that I miss the cold?! You were a balm to my tattered and weathered soul. You were a beautiful, unexpected gift. I was rooted enough in Atlanta to have friends who knew the ugly and and beautiful parts of me- and continued to choose me. My family lived close enough for me to see them often. I got to snuggle and hold babies, while I rested and healed.
2014 was a hard year - with its sharp pains and long aches. 2015 was a time for healing and restoration. I was given so many gifts - topped with a cherry of grace.
Last January, I got to begin my days watching the sun rise in Washington Heights and end the day watching the sun set over the grassy field at the end of my street in South Atlanta. I loved the cold weather - with it’s demand to wear sweaters and leggings and drink hot beverages out of favorite mugs - can you sense that I miss the cold?! You were a balm to my tattered and weathered soul. You were a beautiful, unexpected gift. I was rooted enough in Atlanta to have friends who knew the ugly and and beautiful parts of me- and continued to choose me. My family lived close enough for me to see them often. I got to snuggle and hold babies, while I rested and healed.
2014 was a hard year - with its sharp pains and long aches. 2015 was a time for healing and restoration. I was given so many gifts - topped with a cherry of grace.
A year ago, I’m not sure I would have believed that I’d be sitting in Bangkok typing these words.
I was cared well for in 2015 - more specifically- I felt well-cared for. I was loved well - by so many. I was able to have a job that I loved caring, for kids I love. I was given safe homes to be in when I needed respite, and so much delight and laughter. You held so many dreams, 2015. Thank you.
Living in Bangkok and working for CLF is a dream come true - really - it was an ache in my soul for so long - I forgot that it was there. I am so grateful to be here. It's been messy - but the best parts of a life lived well are messy and full. I’ve been so well supported by friends here who are now family and friends and family in the States.
In Bangkok, there’s so much pain. The city aches with it. You can see it all over - people searching through garbage piles for food and clothing or something to sale, ladies putting on makeup outside of massage parlors waiting for customers - people cruising the red light areas looking for something - searching for something that can’t be found there. We all long for intimacy - if just looks different than what we think it should look like.
It’s all so much - and that doesn't even scratch the surface of the tension and dissonance - in the world. There’s just a lot to hold.
I'll hold hope for you, 2016. May you be full of radical restoration and peace. May you hold gifts and invitations that move us - that make us see one another as fellow humans along this journey. As Mama T says, may we be reminded that we belong to one another.
A little less sweaty, but still grateful,
EM
