Sometimes when I was in Albania, I would just daydream about the places I'd seen and the things I'd done. I'd daydream about the places I had yet to see and the things I had yet to do.
I specifically remember, on several occasions, sitting at my desk in my room, staring out the window at the beautiful sight of grand Mt. Dajti while listening to what I like to call "God music." This just means that I was listening to Lakeside Acapella Choir songs (the choir I was in during high school) or to some sort of Christian contemporary artist like Kirk Franklin, Casting Crowns, or Amy Grant. But I remember just staring at the sight hearing the words of the songs praising God and jut thinking how blessed I was for what I was experiencing. I remember thinking about how thankful I was for the things I was learning every day, for the understanding and perspective I was gaining, for the way the distance from home made me appreciate people more, for the new relationships I was building, for the opportunity to see more of God's spectacular creation, etc. I can recall an overwhelming sense of peace and security during these times spent at my desk staring out the window. There were so many unknowns around me and ahead of me, but all I felt was complete contentedness looking out at the beautiful mountain and blue sky.
Here, the skies are blue today. The weather is gorgeous. Birds are chirping and there is only the faintest breeze blowing around the scents of plant life, ushering the fullness of summer into the house. Most often, it is days like today that bring out clear vivid pictures from my Albania room. Today's vision looks like this:
The picture was actually taken on one of my last days in Tirana. I was standing on the balcony outside of the living room watching a storm blow in. It occurred to me that though I'd watchedthis a number of times before, I'd never captured it in a photograph. And though the view from this balcony and from my bedroom windo was splendid in good weather, to me it was an absolutely awesome picture of God's majesty and splendor when we could see a storm building over the mountain. So many examples of his power all in one place.
There I go again.....when I should be getting the lawn mowed, the car vacuumed out, scholarship applications completed, etc., I find myself daydreaming about Albania. And I wouldn't have it any other way! :)
