After we brought the summer house out of hibernation, we went back to the city. I cleaned up the apartment that I had been able to call my home for some time. Packed my backpack. Leave the flat. Hand over the key. Goodbye.
February 17th: As if it had been a presage: “closed”. A closed desert. The sign made me laugh. Has the desert decided it for itself and put up the sign? What happens if I ignore this notice? Then is the desert angry with me? How does the desert show itself to me when it is open?
April 16: The summer house on the north coast host me again. Exchanging this benefit for the city was an easy decision. It looks like I’m going to spend the summer in Egypt.
The days here are relaxed. Deeply relaxed. With the sea in front of us and a literal private beach, we are here for ourselves. A few people can be seen. Usually a gardener who takes care of the green areas more or less.
Based on the maintenance of the gardens, it can be estimated by whom the houses will be inhabited. A perfectly tended lawn, lush green of the plants in the garden – very clear: the house of the manager of this residential complex. And over there. Just as in good shape: his son’s house. Opposite: a neglected garden. With dried grass. Broken garden fence. Probably less influential. Although all the gardens here are standardized, these huge differences can still be seen. The owners of the houses are less visible. All neighboring houses are currently empty. The shutters are closed.
So much is now closed. Not just the shutters and the desert. It is as if a sign hangs over the whole world: “closed”. Restaurants closed. Schools closed. Sights closed. Airports closed. Borders closed. Everything just shut down. Even the face masks tell us that we should keep our mouths closed. A message that arises from this: Too much has been said and too little has been done. Not enough thought was given before speaking.
The closeness that prevailed in the minds of mankind is now evident in the closeness in our environment. Social distancing has been common in German society long before it was prescribed. More and more single people. Too much career thought. Less neighborly relationships. Circles that stay among themselves. New thoughts stay away.
As a traveler, I am granted entry into foreign worlds, different mentalities and new cultures. On the surface, everything is different. And yet we all have one thing in common. And we can all communicate with each other: with the language of the heart.
That has moved into the background. Past times tell stories of each other, selfish societies, greed, the right of the stronger, injustices. These old stories have no place anymore. And so a mirror is now held up to us.
This time the whole earth is sitting together in one boat. It’s about being together. Understand the language of the heart again. No matter who is in front of you.
And we are still facing a major challenge. Everyone for himself. And all together: do we stay open and continue this change in which we are?
Keep your balance: Be open, even if everything around you has closed.
– Metropolitan Pocahontas
The earth demands a breather. Everything that cut us off from the real core of life has closed. All distractions that existed are erased. And on this white sheet, which we have in front of us, something new arises. It is still gentle and not obvious. However, it hinted.
For our generation, this is the biggest change we are in. It is an immense challenge that we are facing. A global impact that affects all generations.
What I asked the desert two months ago, I now ask you: How do you show yourself to the world when you are open(-minded)?
