i write to believe.

It's the last few minutes before I can exclaim "Thank God it's Friday!".  Usually I'd hurry to wrap up and get my stuff packed so I can rush out and breathe the night air to end the work week.  But this afternoon I'm taking it slow.  This was my first week back since my vacation and I've been challenged to keep my joy and my peace. I would say that I almost lost.  With the things that I've encountered and the issues that have piled up.  I could have easily let those burdens bury me beneath.  Whatever joy I've received and whatever peace I've embraced could have easily been stolen. This morning I suffered an almost losing struggle to my own feeling of "annoyance".  I was running late because I had so many things to prepare and I had to pass by carpoolers on the way to work.  I was running late for my mentoring session and I didn't want to be.  But I was.  Yet, that was my first encounter this Friday with grace.  My mentor ...

I quietly make my way to my desk and stare across the room at my couch filled with things ready for packing.  They're all in there.  My clothes and what not.  Ready to be packed in a suitcase and go to Europe.  It hasn't quite sunk in yet that I will be experiencing this after a long time.  I haven't really been to a foreign place twice and this is my first time to experience going to some of the places in Europe a second time.   I'm looking forward to that feeling of knowing a little bit about the place and not being a complete stranger to it.  There is something very warm and comforting about being somewhat familiar with the first scene that you see as you step out of the airport.  The distinct smell of the air and the muffled chatter of people passing by.  The different shades of green and orange hues of trees changing color in the fall.