Dental and Legal are Done

At 5:00 am today, I received another Peace Corps status change email -- this was a big one!
They have received my medical packet, and have already given me dental and legal clearance.
My medical clearance is in process. Some of the reports I have read describe this as one of the bigger hurdles...

Have a great New Year.

Just A Vehicle

Tonight, one of my friends was at my house with his wife and two young children. His daughter who is about 5 years old, noticed that a lock of my hair was hanging down in the middle of my forehead (my hair is quite long now -- the pic in my profile is over a year old).

His daughter looked at me in a concerned way, studying the lock of hair. Very seriously, she motioned for me to come closer to her, all the while remaining focused on the lock of hair. She slowly and gently took the lock of hair and blended it into the hair on the top of my head.

At that moment I understood the awesome warmth that comes from simple compassion. I realized it's not the act that determines the intensity of the compassion - it's the focus and heart of the giver. The act is just the vehicle for the compassion.

(I think sometimes the act might even get in the way -- if it gets too much focus)

Soon is Nice

Tomorrow, my medical clearance package should arrive in Washington. I am more excited about it than I thought I would be.

It’s nice to be unexpectedly excited about something; especially when it's just about to happen!