Clothes one Part 1

I wrote this blog a while ago and just found it again (Part 2 is in the works–I´m learning the trick of suspense all of our favorite TV shows and movies utilize)… so here goes!

 We´ve been in Guatemala for a week now. It has been so neat to get to know the people on my team, the church (that is just above a delicious coffee shop called Cafe Parada), and the people of Panajachel. It´s funny, though, because most of the life lessons has been learned in moments that I was alone. For example:

 On the rood of our home we have a third floor that is under development. There is some extra wood, a firepit, and 3 clotheslines for our handwashed laundry. The view from the roof is just spectacular. Volcanoes, mountain, Lake Atitlan, and the Municipalidad de Panajachel make for an excellent view to take in each morning and night. One morning I decided to go on the roof and soak in and memorize as much as physically possible of the perfect view. From the avocado tree in our front yard to the cell tower on the mountain to our west–I just don´t want to forget a single detail. After taking it all in, I got up to head down to explore the city and kept a close eye on my feet so as not to trip over the wood (which there wasn´t very much of… at all). I completely forgot about the 3 clotheslines about neck high that would show no mercy to the unattentive intruder.

 Somehow–thankfully–I looked up just in the ¨neck¨of time to see what was about to be my doom. I ducked to avoid the nearly eminent disaster and carried on my merry way softly laughing at the irony that just about ensued. To be clotheslined by a clothesline. I guess the saying came from somewhere, right?

 But such is life. We get concerned and caught up in the little harmless pieces of wood at our feet that we forget to look up and see the true challenges ahead. The challenges that, at least in this case, only require I small change of direction to avoid completely. Funny thing, too, is that I also was unable to admire the scenery as I was staring at my feet.

Look up. Be aware.