Another Sunday walk......

I just returned from another Sunday walk. 

This week my walk was different. 

I walked around the edges of my village instead of down by the beach.

I didn't take my camera this time....only my phone (for an emergency) and my keys.

I spent the whole walk thinking about the book I am reading called, "TrueFaced" by Thrall, McNicol and Lynch. (A friend at school gave me her copy to read.)

The walk was similar to last week in that is is a lovely, warm, sunny day again and there were so many interesting people and sights along the way to look at. 

The chapter that I had just finished reading this morning was about "grace". So far, the highlights of this book, for me, have been:

The visual that God stands "beside" me looking at my sins, not in front or behind me.

That when I see imperfections I need to allow "grace", just as God does for me.

I need to trust who God says I am and be content with that!

All along the walk I practiced the "looking down" rule when I saw a man going by me. This is what is accepted in this culture. This is soooo hard for me to do. Anyone who has gone on a walk with me knows that I always greet people with a hello and a smile. But....I am in Morocco and must try to do what is proper.

So, I am walking along and thinking of the parts of the book that spoke to me. I am rejoicing that "life" seems to be "coming together" for me. This "journey" I am on has been an interesting one, to say the least. Right before I left Steamboat to come to Morocco I was asked by my church to share my "life story". My son made the comment that I didn't have much to say "...the divorce happened a long time ago and his cancer is gone and he is fine....". Well, I did give the talk and then I headed  out of town. My journey brought me here, to Africa. I'm still me. I'm still trying to learn what it is I am suppose to be doing in this big world. But.....little by little, I am learning to be more at peace and loving life one day at a time.

Back to the end of my walk. As I was walking along the street (I use that VERY loosely!) :)  and I notice a car slamming on their brakes. I look up and there is a shepherd with his sheep. Half the sheep  were running across the road and the other half were on their way to the road. The shepherd is standing off to the side of them (not behind them where I would expect him to be) and slapping a stick down on the ground. About this time a motorcycle comes barreling through and nearly hits one of the sheep. Soon the rest of the sheep cross, the vehicles move on and the man walks toward me. The man takes his hat off, wipes the sweat from his forehead and then.....looks me right in the eye, smiles and waves his hand! !! (I know....I couldn't resist. I had to take a quick look into his eyes as I passed him.) I take a couple more steps and I notice I tears in my eyes.....?? the book? a Moroccan man being kind to me?(a shepherd much less), a sunny day?

No, this walk wasn't about getting some awesome photos to share with you today. This walk was about living my life one day at a time and trusting God completely. I am who he created and I am living in Morocco to grow me and others around me in God's love. Some times that looks like words in a book. Sometimes it is an American friend sharing a life struggle with me. Sometimes it is listening to a Moroccan child or Moroccan friend sharing a piece of their life with me.

...and sometimes it is a shepherd greeting me with a smile and a wave of the hand.

Blessings to all of you back home. I miss you and pray for you daily.