Transient

Transient is a dark word in some of the circles I walk in.  There is an expectation that someone who changes countries should make the change a lasting one.  I came to Madrid with that belief lodged in my heart.  But this is a city of ephemeral connections.

I had a buddy from Argentina. He came here with big hopes including saving enough to buy a property in his homeland.  He stayed about 9 months and decided to go back to the land he had grown up in. Very little or nothing saved. His warm greetings changed my heart in the short time I knew him and he left me a mantra. “Te pinzan el globo.” It was his way of saying “Don’t let people get you down.”

I had a neighbor who I always saw when we put the clothes out to dry. He arrived from Colombia years ago, but shortly after we met he made plans to go back. His plane left a couple of hours ago if everything went according to plan today. He told me I should eat fish heads because they make a man strong and that bathing in hot water makes a man wrinkly.

I started reflecting on what concept I could leave with my neighbors as we make and break these ephemeral bonds.  I think I want it to lead to God but keep the power of mystery.  Easy teachings are easily dropped.  I’d like my transient legacy to be something like “God is turning our lives upside down. It’s going to be awesome!”