The following entry is part one to a three part story. The other parts will be published on this very site soon. Lets call it "Spreading the Joy"?
A long, long time ago in a far distant land.........when I was working in Norway, I remember the exact moment when I felt I crossed the line between being a visitor to that grand country and feeling like a local. I had struggled a bit with the language since arriving and most of the locals in the remote area I lived could only speak Norwegian. As a result, I really felt like I was constantly battling to establish a sense of self identity within myself, and therefore the community. It was a time where I learnt Language is the single most impenetrable barrier to a new culture. One day however, while walking the few kilometres of country roads back from the local shop, contemplating life’s gifts and marvelling at the ruins of ancient roads which ran parallel to the stream, it hit me! Without warning a vehicle rushed up beside me and a man opened the window and shouted a question at me. He was obviously in a hurry and I felt a little intimidated with the urgency, so I gave him the directions that he so desperately needed. With that done, he sped off in the direction from where he came and I was left alone again. Then I began to smile. I started as a tingle inside but ended in an arm raising release of joy. I could feel my spirit guides dancing around me in support as I swallowed the reason I was experiencing this feeling. The albeit brief yet intense conversation I had with this man, was in Norwegian. Not my usual effort of - Think about what you need to say, how do I say it? Is this the right tense? The right tone? No, none of that. The situation was so spontaneous and unexpected, I didn’t have time to think anything, I just blurted out my responses, in Norwegian! That was the point, with that realisation and that confidence, when I began to feel that I was no longer a spectator on the sidelines of this game, I was in it. The rest that say, is history.
(To be continued....)
Being in authority does not make you a good leader, it is an opportunity to be one. (Anon)
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