We’re currently in New Orleans, specifically Mandeville LA. It’s my 2nd visit, who knows what number for Bruce (the man gets around). We’re staying in Fountainbleu State Park, across Lake Pontchartrain from the city proper. It’s lovely, quiet, birds are singing and the weather is spectacular.
Can you say cheap?
When we entered the office to pay for our 14 days, we learned that as seniors we get a 50% discount. Less than $200 for 14 days, and no electric charges on top of that! In RV life it’s a sweepstakes win. However, as we took a corner to reach our site, Bruce turned a bit too wide, hit a culvert and blew out the front tire.
Sooo, financial wash?
We’re picking up a friend from Tucson today. She has never been anywhere in the Deep South (Orlando doesn’t count), she’s very excited. Swamp tour, carriage ride, Beignets, and shopping are on the agenda. She’ll be here for a week in her own hotel room nearby. That’s the rule, friends can come along, but they have to find hotels. 400 sq feet is enough for a visit and a meal but not enough for overnights.
But today I’m moved to share a personal story. With the current Middle East situation and its potentially tenuous outcome, I’m reminded of my Persian friends from Arizona. Here goes…
I met my friend in Phoenix (1996), when our girls were in the same charter school. We are close in age and share similar values, though she is Baha’i and I am Christian. In the 70’s when Iran was going through its revolutionary upheaval, her father worked in a government job, and could see the danger ahead. He sent her to an uncle in Oregon for her safety, and when her parents escaped the country they reunited. She met her husband who is also Baha’i/Persian and together they lived in various places in the US. Our girls were 6 when we met 30 years ago.
Facebook is the best for reconnecting!
I don’t think she’s been able to go back to Iran since she was sent away. Both her parents passed away in the US, and I believe relatives were left back home that they never saw again. Baha’i people were heavily persecuted once the country fell to Islam. (If you’re reading his Deeba, please forgive any mistaken facts).
I haven’t spoken to her since the attacks happened, but I am friends with her daughter on Instagram. From what I can tell, she seems glad of our intervention. I absolutely love how she takes the Israeli/Palestinian protesters to task, for being silent on Iran’s regime. The hypocrisy is deep on that one.
Anyhow, this memory led me to think about the number of people in my life that I am friends with, who are of a different religious or cultural persuasion than me. Some are Christian, some are not. Others are from different countries, speak different languages, and have skin that is different than mine.
Like my Dominican friend who met and married an American in the DR and emigrated here 15 years ago. She became a citizen but her welcome has been mixed.
Or the married lesbian landlords we had in Chicago, who put many Christians to shame with their integrity and ‘other minded-ness’.
The Bahamian woman who lived with us for 18 months, navigating the immigration system at great financial and logistical cost. (It’s broken, complicated, and needs reform but good luck getting any politician to fix it).
The multiple Indian friends, who love America, yet wish much of it was different. They’ve achieved financial security, personal success and raised children who are more American than Indian (excluding food).
My orthodox Jewish friend in Chicago who observes the Sabbath and holidays, follows a kosher diet yet she makes a way for us to have lunch together, and still cherishes her Dalton GA roots.
My numerous Catholic friends who are devoted to Jesus, Mary and the Pope. They observe the liturgical calendar, I barely know what it is.
My neighbor from Fremont 1989, who now lives in Belgium. We will likely never agree about religion (she’s a yogi) but our friendship has lasted 35 years.
One of my dearest friends whose daughter is now a son. I grieved with her as this transition happened, she described it as the death of a child. She loves and supports him but it has cost her immensely with extended family.
Lastly, a great number of Christian, African Americans, both Republican and Democrat, that have experienced the injustices and prejudices that still exist in our culture today.
All of these people are incredibly dear to me, and I can’t imagine my life without them. They have expanded my world in ways I never imagined. Knowing people’s personal stories is a powerful antidote to prejudice and misconceptions. When I pondered why I was able to collect such a diverse group of people in my life, I realized that I’d subscribed to something Ted Lasso said,
“Be curious”
I ask incessant questions. Curiosity has led me to shed some preconceived notions about people. For example, I’ve learned that not all Black folks are Democrats. Or that homosexuality and transgenderism are far more complex than simply a personal choice. I’ve found a lot of common ground morally with people from different faith traditions and religions. And I hope that my friends have also learned that Evangelical Christians aren’t all,
Sigh…
I hesitate to even use the label, but I’m definitely in the camp. I find myself apologizing for us at times. And I want to shout to the world, that most of my camp are not as biased and critical as portrayed by media, social or broadcast.
I’m not a big ‘end times’ nerd, I have no idea if what’s happening in Iran, has anything to do with Jesus’ return. I will even say, I don’t care. I’ve heard this bell ringing my entire Christian life and He still waits. And according to Scripture, the ‘end times’ began with the ascension of Jesus. Every generation of Christianity has felt this way, it’s not new.
But I pray and hope, that for all of the people in Iran, a sense of freedom opens for them. That they have an opportunity to self govern and live as free and independent citizens of their country. That the terror of the past will not haunt their future.
And if the US has helped them to achieve this, I am okay with it.
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