Settling into life in Zambia has been an enriching journey, marked by both significant milestones and the quiet joys of everyday life. As the days turn into weeks, the feeling of home grows stronger, often symbolized by the things I acquire to facilitate my daily routines. Among these acquisitions, a car stands out as a major step towards independence and normalcy.
Just a few weeks ago, I accomplished a significant goal: purchasing a 2008 Toyota RAV4. The sense of freedom and self-reliance that comes with owning a car is truly liberating. No longer dependent on borrowing transportation, I can now navigate my responsibilities and personal errands with ease and flexibility. Finding a reliable vehicle that also fit comfortably within my budget felt like a true blessing, a testament to unexpected providence.
However, amidst the excitement of a car purchase, it’s the smaller, seemingly mundane acquisitions that truly underscore the feeling of being settled. Consider, for instance, the simple act of buying Tupperware. It might not be glamorous, but these practical containers are undeniably essential for daily living. These moments – acquiring Tupperware, driving myself to pick up a friend – are the very essence of normalcy and the quiet markers of feeling at home in a new place. They represent a grounding in the everyday rhythms of life.
Another such moment unfolded in my kitchen recently as I baked sugar cookies, a familiar activity from my life back in the States. Despite a few minor kitchen mishaps along the way, the act of baking itself felt profoundly normal and comforting. It’s precisely these ordinary moments, these instances of complete, mundane normalcy, that are weaving their way into my heart and shaping my growing affection for life here.
This embrace of the everyday resonates deeply with my current reading, “Practice the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence. Brother Lawrence dedicated his life to recognizing and experiencing God’s presence in every facet of his day. Whether washing dishes or running errands, he cultivated a constant awareness of the divine in the ordinary. I am striving to cultivate this same awareness, to reflect on and recognize God’s presence within these normal, everyday aspects of my Zambian life. There is something truly beautiful and profound in finding the divine even in something as simple as buying Tupperware or driving my own car – realizing that His presence accompanies every moment, big or small.
