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| My Bangkok |
I live in a country, where the local culture supports its people to avoid conflict. I reflect that nobody likes conflict. I sure don't, but I also know that you can't just always evade it. Maybe it is more about how we deal with it. Sure, one does not make a "Last Stand at the Alamo" response each time. There can be my trap or downfall. Instead, we choose our fights. This choosing happens within the context of who we are.
Who am I? A central theme in my life is belonging, referring back to my very origins. Along with this, for me, another central theme, arising over the years, is spirituality matters. Then, only last week, I finally discovered a purposeful definition of spirituality. I thought, Eureka! It goes like this.
Spirituality is being grounded before God in the very place, where he chooses for me."
Then it struck me that grounded has two meanings in English. It can mean being rooted firmly into the earth or being punished by your parents when you are a naughty child. I find that word association fascinating.
This fascinates me even further as I am coming more and more to a realization that Thailand is my home. Reality is telling me that I am no longer under the category of being an Australian living in Thailand. Rather I am an Australian whose home is Thailand.
This is all significant for me as it refers back to belonging, that central theme of my life. Where do I belong? Where is home? My understanding of self firmly demands that I be grounded. To be otherwise is more than just unsettling, it is frightening, as then where is home? Home is important. Home is about being grounded.
This reflects the struggle of life. I have learnt that this struggle is not linear, proceeding easily to some resolution. Rather, life is a cyclical journey, where all the same themes keep playing their tune. Being grounded allows one to face those ever continuing tunes of life's struggles with more wisdom, deeper awareness and greater confidence to learn, grow and share.
