Communing

 

 

 

 

At breakfast, after we'd completed our own circling of the Kaaba and then done the Dawn Prayer, Noi tentatively observed: I felt so... small, in relation to her experience directly in front of the Kaaba. It was well put. The structure is by no means grand, yet looking into the mystery of things dwarfs you.

In a way this trip has reduced our individuality, yet made us part of a greater whole. In simple, everyday terms I would not have been able to deal with certain occasions without the help of our fellows in the tour group, and for that I'm deeply thankful. Particularly memorable is the manner in which two different guys looked after me on two different occasions in the scrum to pray near the Prophet's (peace be upon him) tomb in the mosque in Medinah, when they had plenty to take care of for themselves.

The Missus, of course, has entered into all the communing with gusto. As far as I can tell she's friends with all the ladies in the group and has been merrily chatting away to everyone she meets in the mosque - where she's been handing out dates to all around her and sweets to the children, lucky them.

Now packing for the return trip, so the ties we've made can only be temporary. But then, that's true of life in general, I suppose.