Its Thanksgiving this weekend, as you, of course, know. I have wanted to say something since returning to Canada, but I haven't figured out what exactly I want to say or how I want to say it. I suppose in part, this is because I wanted to offer up some concluding word; some summing up of what I experienced, the meaning of that experience and so on. I haven't figured out a way to do that though. Perhaps some day I'll be able to write a Concluding Unscientific Postscript of my own...but, until then, it is Thanksgiving and I want to offer up some of that.
Because, well, I am quite thankful. I'm thankful I was able to take part in this program called Intercordia. I'm thankful for the placement that was chosen for me by FRI in Ecuador. I'm thankful that I was...absorbed into the family I was living with, such that I now say "my family". I'm thankful that bonds were made that wouldn't have otherwise been made. I'm thankful that it is possible for those connections to be made; that there is some deep, beautiful connection that grows between people, that we have an opportunity to be a part of this as long as we are with other people and that this is really where much of the meaning in life comes from. I'm thankful that when you experience this sort of thing, you don't really wonder so much if life is meaningless, or if God exists. You kind of just get smothered in meaning, and you get smothered in a sense of God being there, of maybe what it means for "the kingdom of God to be at-hand". I'm thankful for the Spanish language, and maybe, I guess, language in general. Its an enormous thing and so deep down into how we move and act and think in this world. I like it very much. Especially that language beyond languages which enables comprehension, and sometimes the use of words. And the feeling of words on your tongue and on your lips; words that have not been there before, but now are. I'm thankful that you have taken the time to read these blog posts/letters; that you have struggled through my struggles in word form, if even just to try to figure out what it is I am saying. Because, well, I never really feel like I am being very clear. I'm thankful too, for the other forms of support that have been extended to me from you, whether they be prayers, letters/notes/messages/comment things, financial support and so on. All of these made it possible for me to be able to do this, and so, thank you very much. I'm thankful for the other, perhaps, unexpected friendships that grew up between us fellow Ecuador Intercordians. It takes some sort of struggle for a person to be revealed, and gorgeous people were revealed to me. I am so glad to have been there with them. And I am glad to be back and have the ability to visit you (probably...eventually...I hope). I know that I have been benefited from my time in Ecuador, and I am quite sure that my presence was beneficial as well, and I want you to benefit too. You won't make any more money, your job will most likely be the same one afterwards, and you should probably still brush your teeth, but I think there is still something for you to "get". At the least, I want to make food for you, and share some pictures and some stories, and maybe some tea (some of you already have that!). I think there is something very special in that, something very beautiful. I think that is beneficial. We could always use a little more beauty in our lives.
Muchos gracias!
