The turn-off to Maloula on the road from An-Nabk to Damascus, Syria (June 9, 2010) Early on the afternoon of June 9, 2010, I stood on the side of a Syrian highway and took this picture. For the previous two nights I had been staying at Deir Mar Musa, a monastery perched on a mountainside […]
Looking Back: A Day in Damascus, Syria
June 6, 2010, was a Sunday, and I started the morning with breakfast at the Al Rabie Hotel in Damascus, Syria. One of the most beautiful interiors of any hotel/hostel I’ve stayed at. The following is excerpted from my journal, though “Sarah” is not her real name. This is but a glimpse through one tiny […]
Build Love, Not Greatness: Thoughts While Sitting In Ruins
Luxor, Egypt – April 11, 2010 The picture above is a view from inside the Ramesseum, a mortuary temple of Pharaoh Ramesses (Ramses) II, located in the Theban necropolis near Luxor, Egypt. It was built in the 13th century B.C. The Ramesseum is one of my favorite places in Upper Egypt, in part because it […]
Snippets Of Conversation From A Month In Iraq
Almost two years ago, in May 2017, I spent four weeks in northern Iraq, meeting an eclectic mix of people, from youthful backpackers to weary soldiers, from Catholic nuns to restaurant cooks. I think often of these people, and am thankful for the small glimpses they gave me into their lives, hearts, and work. To mark the two-year anniversary of the visit, here are eight snippets of conversation jotted down in my notebook:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 8
- Next Page »