Round Two

Hellllllllo. It's gorgeous today and I've just returned from an hour-long walk back to my room. I decided I'd walk as long as I was in the sun; the sun took me all the way back home. Today is Easter Monday, which I don't even think I knew it existed...but I'm glad it's so nice because all the people who don't have to work today are able to enjoy themselves in this incredible weather.

It's pretty weird that I still haven't begun my second semester, while overachievers at home are probably beginning to study for their final exams. There I go again--always trying to make sense of time and put things into perspective. Things aren't that way, so I don't know why I still try and force logic into all things. I remember but a few, special memories of my Grandpa, and the one coming to mind is the time we were at their house and doing a puzzle. I kept trying to put all the pieces together somewhat urgently. Grandpa's soft voice crept in and told me quite simply, "...Don't...force...it..."

I can still hear him saying it.

Forced things, to me, are never true things. I'm back in Germany and I feel forced to be studying this subject. To be honest with you, I'd had enough German studies before I even arrived. I think learning another language is necessary and an incredibly enriching experience...but I think it has more to do with recognizing--and coming to a thorough understanding of--the truth that people in the world aren't going to be the same as you, but even so, they still surrender to the same basic needs as you do. They still deserve your respect.

I am just now having time to process things from the last three weeks. Today I'm trying to process why I was created to process things. Walking helps me. I wish we could all walk more. It'd be better for us in so many ways. Time with our thoughts, our prayers, exercise for the legs, a little Vitamin D if you're in the sun, and perhaps just spending time as it was intended to be spent.