Someone I respect said:
"Those who can’t think beyond the limitations of their own expectations can not understand that which does not fall within them."
Indeed. It got me to thinking a bit about my own expectations of what it would be like over here and how that has been different from the reality of Iraq.
To me, watching Iraq (as an experience) unfold is at times like being a pawn on one of those giant human chessboards. You know a rather large game is being played even though you can only see your area of the field. You know there are hidden moves happening and you know that your next move could be your last, so to speak. But the thing is, you're part of the game.
You're a player, on the ground, in the mix, and for all the hardship and PITA of being here, there's a bit of a siren call to being part of something larger. A feeling of working with a group of others who are all trying to move in the same direction. There's a focus and a comradeship you simply do not find back in the world.
It's part of what draws some of us, and draws some of us back. There's an immediacy to being near the pointy end of the stick. Your work has value and impact on others now, today. You don't get that back home where it's all meetings and planning and then weekends off. There an austerity to being out here. A mean focus. Once you have a taste for it, it calls you a bit from then on. Maybe not here.. but somewhere.
Somewhere where it's a bit more challenging.
Regards,
-Bouncer-
1 comment:
the big picture is what we see outside of ourselves.....like He might see it from His throne. I try to do the right thing each day and do no harm in the process. Turtle.
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