Big Picture Take-Aways
Trip Start
Mar 10, 2007
1
25
Trip End
Apr 11, 2007
Dallas, Texas
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Hospitality; Family/Community/Passion for Country; Love of Brother/One Another; Political; Spiritual; Abercrombie & Kent; Bottom Line
Hospitality
The countries we visited are inherently hospitable, in a way Americans have long forgotten. The bands that welcomed us; the natives holding trays of cold drinks for us; the children offering us leis; and natives offering coffee to their guests were not doing so for "show" or to "impress," but to be genuinely hospitable. Sincerely welcoming visitors is a part of their culture. A guest in any home, whether expected or unexpected, will be invited in for at least as long as it takes to drink three small cups of coffee. The rationale? The host offering the drink is welcoming the guest. The guest staying long enough for three cups honors the host by giving him enough time to get to know the visitor and to trust him. Quite a different attitude from our American way of greeting a knock on the door with a chained lock permitting only a small opening to "check out" the visitor, or with a hurried, "Come on in, but I only have a minute before I have to...."
Family/Community/Passion for Country
The less people have, the more committed to family and proximate community they are. People in villages live on land shared with all members of the extended family. As sons mature, they build huts on the same land. Aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, grandparents live proximate to one another. And their loyalty to the other families in the village is keen as well. Yes, they depend upon one another for survival. They share working the fields; caring for the children; making the crafts. But they do so with joy and happiness. Going back to the Old Testament, "nationhood" was key to survival. Isn't it also key to loving our neighbor? And, the pride and passion people have in showing you their country is inescapable. Where has pride in America gone? When is the last time we exuded passion about our wonderful country to a visitor? We mouth, "How fortunate we are to live in America," but do we demonstrate that passion in our daily lives?
Love of Brother and One Another
In Jordan and in Egypt, our expert guides described the Muslim belief that governs their lives. My interpretation is that they live to love their brother and those in their "tribes," and to live in peace at all costs. As we listened to them quote the Old Testament verbatim and remind us we all have one God, I honestly felt most of them are living God's Word of showing love and mercy in a way many of us Americans have given up. Has our lack of trust and fear for personal security intruded into putting into action the faith we profess?
The order of loyalty, as I understood it, of Muslims is: brother first; sister next; father next; mother next; spouse next; children next. It is based on the theory you will live more years of your life with your siblings than with anyone else in your family (because they are born closest to you). Therefore, you care for your brother first. If someone threatens or harms your brother, you must address the offender. But! Muslim law does not say violence is your first option when trying to right a wrong against your brother. There are many peaceful steps to be taken so that the honor of your brother is restored, but you live peaceably with the offender.
Political
Our Jordanian and Egyptian guides, as well as the Minister of Civil Affairs of Egypt, suggest that the tribal wars of the Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq stem from a fanatical reaction to the "honor your brother code." They all agreed if America pulled out of Iraq, chaos and abhorrent killing will take place. But they also agreed that Democracy cannot be the immediate answer for Iraq. One cannot go from fanatical tribal warfare to Democracy, they suggest. First, one must have a powerful enough leader, whether military or autocratic, to control and force the tribes to stop warring. And if such a leader has the people's best interests at heart, he/she will slowly introduce democratic ways while still being able to keep peace among the people.
They feel in addition to strong authoritarian leadership, education must come before Democracy. For instance, there are Christian Churches in India teaching their parishioners that "Democracy" means "people who do not believe in God." Of course, those people would not vote for a Democracy.
So, my understanding of their view was that at the present, the Americans are the only ones strong enough to keep some semblance of peace in Iraq. But what is needed more is a strong autocratic Iraqi leader who will begin the slow process of readying the people for Democracy as he/she maintains peace.
Spiritual
Still being new to God's Word, I was struck over and over with the depth of knowledge many people in these countries had of the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, and how devotedly they were trying to live their lives by God's Word.
I am awstruck by: the beauty of the Petra Rocks and the closeness of them to those walking its path; the wonder of the sculpting of Easter Island's multi-ton statues; the complex temples of Tikal and Angkor Wat; the tombs of Egypt and their glorius crafted contents; the solitude of the deep red desert sand; the stars filling desert skies; the mystery of how people who lived so long ago could build and carve such monuments with no metal tools nor the wheel; the realization of how many lives were committed to working to honor idols and leaders. I said to someone in Sunday School last week, "There's no way one could not feel close to God among Petra's rocks," and she replied, "You should feel the closeness of God anywhere." Yes, but for me, there it was visceral. And the question I kept -- and still am -- asking myself is: "And what am I doing each day for our Lord and Savior?"
Abercrombie & Kent
The company leading our trip was Abercrombie & Kent (AK). Let me first acknowledge them for emailing me all the factual information about each site we visited so that I could include it in my travel log. But beyond that, let me share that trying to explain what it is they do that makes their trips so special is like trying to explain my emotions about Petra: you must experience it to understand it.
Simply, the access, expertise, and personal attention they provide is simply over the top. The log will identify numerous examples, but just a few would be the following. We never waited either leaving or entering any airport: immigration and customs are expedited to the extent they are seemingly non-existent. We never touched the luggage we wanted to check on the plane except to put it outside our doors in departing hotels, and retrieve it neatly laid out in the next destination's hotels. We visited the Cairo Antiquities Museum alone from 7:00-9:00 a.m.: 50 people and our expert guides alone in the museum. We visited a closed "live" archeological dig. We experienced native festival dinners the likes of which cannot be imagined. We stayed in only the finest of accommodations. But most importantly, whatever one might want, was promptly delivered. Whether it be the purchase of a large pillow to support my back on the plane, or 3 ladies to massage our feet after climbing the temples in Tikal, a whispered, "What if I had this?" became an instant reality.
The AK tour directors accompanying us, the AK local staff at each stop, and the guides they hire locally are simply top, top experts. The education offered, the organization given, and the capacity to be flexible to alter plans for any one individual happened seamlessly.
Bottom line:
I said before going on this trip it would be my trip of a lifetime, and it measured up in every detail. I am so thankful to God for the blessing of this trip. It will take me weeks to digest all to which I have been exposed.
Comments
Amazing journey!
Truly! Pretty cool to get RTW at this fairly late date for such things. Enjoyed the photos and stories (even with major $, still hassles). Welcome home,
Charles
And thanks for sending your travelogue - very enjoyable.