Dates, at least in the Emirates, are equalisers. They are accessible to individuals of all economic statuses and easy for young and old to enjoy. They have a place in the local culture and with those in the country on an extended stay. I have been fortunate. With local guidance, I have come to appreciate the fruit at all stages of its growth. As I stock up for the trip I am on, my reflections while picking my dates have stayed with me and are shaping the day ahead.
Life’s most significant decisions are universal and personal. I chose my values. I acknowledge that others – parents, teachers, and friends – influenced my choice. Some were actively campaigning for one side or the other. Some spoke of freedom and the right of independence. Authoritarians were always within range of my hearing. I look back and see that it was my decision in the end. I discovered, recognised, and accepted my responsibility and accountability for my choices.
Life’s path is never predefined. I have rediscovered that my path can be seen as the sum of my choices. I have imagined what a different path would have been. Whatever it might have been, I am confident I do not have any wish to walk that path. The desire to avoid my mistakes, along with the actions that caused pain, is tempered by the individuals, relationships, and love I have. I take comfort and find courage in the examples set by wisdom fathers before me, including Moses, as flawed and human as he was. In his case, “He chose a hard life with God’s people rather than an opportunistic soft life of sin with the oppressors.” (Hebrews 11.25)
Life is for living. Some days are hard – early morning wake-up calls, missing the laughter of children sharing their day, and the demand to step into the unknown. As relentless as life is, it is also an opportunity to share what binds us. I hear my calling to be present, engaged, and compassionate. Each step is an opportunity to experience care and kindness.
