My friend and I were talking to our dear Chilean friend. I asked him what he recommended us... what do you recommend to us if were were to live long term in a foreign latinamerican country?
It was such a gentle conversation. And he gave practical advice: read. Read and research. Mesh with the country you are going to before you go there. Eliminate culture shock and prepare yourself as best as you can. He talked about the phases. The first month is fascinating. The second is adapting. He gave good perspective.
And then he asked questions.
Jil is headed to Colombia soon; she'll be there 6 months. He asked me what my plans were. I told him I have hopes and dreams after graduation, but not plans yet. Last time I was asked I said, I want to graduate (who knows when!) and spend time in a latinamerican community... for an extended period of time. However long, I'll go. And even now, I have specific desires and hopes for this community too. A family based community. A church, a familiarity of heart. A place to serve... a place to grow... to be part of a whole. Yo no sé lo que el Señor va a hacer conmigo. Pero aún ahora en este momento él me prepara... My life is sooo not mine.
Jil says I'm going to Colombia too. We'll see. For three years, that mysterious place has been in the background of my mind. My friend offered more advice about Colombia... with the more details; his brother's wife is from the city I am interested in. And Jil is going to the other city I'm familiar with. I have no idea what the future holds. I'm hopeful, but my plans are not set.
What he said next stuck with me. "Tu tienes que concretar tus sueños" he said. I thought concretar meant to concrete, to make them happen. I thought this over... to understand it. I kinda took this as an encouragement... to take charge of your hopes in dreams. To be bold, to be unafraid to follow your hopes. Ok, I thought. I get that...
When I got home I looked up concretar. I wasn't familiar with it.
The word translated as specify.
The phrase translated as "you have to realize your dreams".
You have to realize them, specify them. Identify them; put reality in them; know them.
To specify or to realize your dreams blew my mind.
I can be specific and realize that I hope for specific things. And I'm ok with that.
Maybe my friend didn't mean anything by what he said. Maybe my interpretation is nothing like what he wanted to convey to me. Yet at the same time, it's exactly what I heard. This is what I understand of his words.
I'm encouraged. And still hopeful. Yet the future is uncertain. Yo sé que estoy en este lugar con próposito... aúnque yo no entiendo todo en este momento. Hay esperanza... siempre hay esperanza.
I'm Forgiven.
I think this summer is going to contain a lot more Sanctus Real...
and I'm excited to pick my guitar back up.
Gimme some Sunshine.
1 comment:
I love words. And I adore the specifying or realizing your dreams idea. I have so many, I hate to put them into words, letting them stay as vague inclinations of something I'd later like to do. That is a powerful poetic idea in that there Spanish word! Also, come visit me soon :) I can't wait to see you Narnia neighbor!
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