Journey Back to Eden.pdf - St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Chicago

A TIME OF SIGNS: CAELUM ET TERRA 69ful guest in the bounty of my gracious Host. Let not my transiencemake me desperate or thoughtless, hardened or distracted.Your breath, after all, gave this mist its power to livein me. Let me breathe my prayer of praise to you. You haveanswered my prayers and brought me to a land where everyvoice acknowledges your sovereignty over the future. “In sha’allah!” they speak one to the other at every turn.Now I can feel the truth of the words: “In sha’ allah: asGod wills.” The desert sun itself dispels—devours—the morningmist at once, and before your face our plans and projectsare even less substantial vapors! Now I can obey the apostle’sinjunction: “You ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills . . .’” To be astranger in a strange land makes the force of this commandfelt. Is this why you call your children away into the wilderness,up to the mountain, across the sea, or to a retreat?I know all the details of how my journey fell out; my ownhand was in it from the start. But your hand was on mine,and in the making of this journey I have always had the senseof obeying your will for me. So I go on here in peace, notknowing anything but that the future is yours and that I ama fugitive on the earth just a little while. This momentaryresignation makes me quiet and glad. You are God, and myjourney is yours to direct, through Christ Jesus, your Son.Amen.Green CardsDECEMBER 12, FRIDAYSometimes it seems that every young Egyptian is interested insomehow getting an American visa or a green card, or at least a letterof recommendation from someone who can help him get one.Everyone is interested in obtaining a job contact or a scholarshipor a referral, or even finding someone who is marriageable, so thatby one of these means he can go to the United States. It seems thateveryone, especially under a certain age, is desperate to get out ofthe Third World, to get out of Egypt as it is.I hear these requests from pilgrims, from parents for their children,from monks for members of their families, from employeesof the monasteries, from Copts all over, and even from Moslems!