Hiking Through the Wilderness Conservancy
Rye, New York
October 2010
Genesis 37:6 NIV
"He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had:"
The five of us teachers sat around a student desk in an empty classroom drinking tea and eating sweets. The president of the nation's stern face stared down at us from his perch on the wall next to the national seal and flag.
We ignored him and talked about our dreams.
I was in a remote region of Turkmenistan, and as long as there weren't students here, I was allowed to visit the teachers this hot summer day. I had met them all before in 2004, so this was a joyful reunion in 2007.
We talked about one teacher's desire to walk around the world. Her companions broke into uproarious laughter at the thought. Not because she wasn't physically fit, but because her country is a repressed nation. It was an impossible dream, and, as her friends, they felt compelled to tease her.
"Yes--you will walk around the world! You will walk to Turkmenbashy and turn south. You will follow the border to Ashgabat and head east to Mary and turn north to Lebap. From there you will walk further north to Dashoguz and then south to Turkmenbashy. You will make loops around the country's border. You will walk circles around the country, but you will NEVER walk around the world."
Her friends double over laughing so hard they cry. She smiles as she realizes the truth they speak.
She has a simple dream. She doesn't want much. She just wants to walk around the world.
It's a hysterical thought in a repressed nation.
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Lord, please remember the dreams of all your children.
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