#prayerforafghanistan

 The situation in Afghanistan is heart-breaking. Artist @shamsiahassani captured this heartache & pain clearly with her arts & words.

The plight of Afghanistan refugees has taken me back to another time & place. I pray for us all across time & space. America likes to meddle & leave things unfinished with deadly consequences for locals.

I have been thinking of my college roommate. I have not seen or thought about her in decades. She is Afghan & one of the best roommates I had. For that year we lived together, we didn't see each other much & I was never at our apartment on weekends. We had very few conversations but we had a few and they stayed with me. She told me that her parents left Afghanistan so that she and her siblings would have opportunity for a better life. She told me that her parents want all their children, daughters and sons to have an education and treated them equally but we also talked about how daughters are always given more responsibility & this appears to be across all cultures.

She was a vegetarian and she introduced me to vegetarian burger.

Our apartment was tiny and I had to tiptoe across the room a few times while she was praying. I'm sure she was annoyed & wonder why I couldn't wait until she was done. Blame it on my small bladder.

At the end of the school year, we both realized that we had a good year together, peaceful & drama-free. We kept out of each other way. We were respectful & considerate. As we were getting ready to go back to our parents house for the summer, we exchanged phone number and she invited me to visit her. I accept the offer since her parents' house weren't that far from my parents' house.

It was a pleasant visit. Her family were very hospitable. It was the first time I ate Afghanistan food. I can't tell you what it was but it was delicious. There was a sweet that melt in my mouth like honey.

I wonder how she's doing. I wonder if she worries about family still in Afghanistan. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, I send love and prayers. I think of you & I hope you are comforted. I wish the same things for Afghanistan.

#prayerforafghanistan #afghanistan