Echoes Of Andrew Corsie

It is 5 am and I am sitting in a closed Burger King section of Cairo Airport’s main terminal. I am looking through a wall of glass out to the airport where a plane is moving towards the window. I am staring at it’s nose wondering what might happen? A group of energetic people of African descent are into their 3rd bottle of wine, enjoying hearty conversation, a local is asleep on a bench,and there is me.
I am taking stock of my sabbatical thus far. To begin with I journeyed further along the Camino Way in Northern Spain and delighted in the simplicity of every day life with my fellow perigrinos, Tricia and John from home and also the many others from all over the world. I mentioned my journey with ‘pain’ my recent friend and all we are learning together. The joy of achievement, in reaching the destination you have set for yourself is wonderful to experience, so the pain is forgotten amongst the celebration of a job well done. The top of the Galician hills at O Cebreiro, did much to encourage me on the journey of life. Whatever the future might hold, challenges still await and I will have the strength to go forward.
The Forgiveness Project Exhibition, which I have yet to write about, was a wonderful time spent with interested people, in forging a way through the pain of suffering to a better world of healthy relationships towards dealing with violence and pain with a different approach. It was humbling to be with such people, to share experiences and to dream for the future.
The course in the US took this journey to a new level. The wonderful melting pot which was the university summer school’s community of about 100 people – enabled me to hear of stories from even further afield, of dreadful tragedy and suffering, but also to hear with wonder the humanity, compassion and strength of will to make a better world. I felt in awe of my fellow students and grateful for the wisdom and hope communicated by such knowledgable and experienced tutors. I left deeply touched by pain and very hopeful for tomorrow.
72 hours at home was not enough to re-connect with my family, but I was grateful for time spent with Shiobain, Elliot, Renee and Josh my nephew. And there was Joey, our dog. Some of my time involved investigating Joey’s health as we discovered that he is riddled with cancer and needs to be ‘put down’. This was a shock to us all and dear Joey knows nothing about it, although I am sure he cannot feel very well. The news has spread throughout our little grapevine at an enormous rate with text and phone messages of goodwill flooding in and some family and friends wanting to visit Joey and say goodbye. He is to be ‘put to sleep’ at 5.30pm on Monday. This friendly and mild-mannered dog will be missed, even by me who didn’t want a dog in the first place!! However, his good nature has reached through and we all have been touched by him. Indeed, one member of our extended family attributes, in a sizeable way, Joey’s contribution to his return to personal well-being.
I will write again, when I have had more time to reflect on our relationship with the natural world. We discussed this on the course, emphasising the need to be reconciled with nature. While at home and clearly unwell, I looked into Joey’s eyes and wondered what he might say to me? Animals seem to address suffering in an accepting kind of way.
While in the airport I have just finished a book on forgiveness, and much else, by a Palestinian doctor, Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish entitled, I Shall Not Hate. Tempted as I am to offer a book review, I shall resist and enthusiastically recommend it to you – it is inspiring that someone who has experienced such pain, tragedy and abuse has not resorted to hate, as well he might. Instead, he works so hard, together with the remaining members of his immediate family, to foster understanding and healing between people. Out of terrible pain has come so much good.
My home felt different when I left to journey to Heathrow Airport. I remarked to Shiobain, my wife, that pain and suffering, even that of a dog and those suffering with him, has humanised the place. Attention was being paid to each other just a little bit more than usual. Sensitivity to others was noticeable, just a bit more. It is natural to want to avoid pain, and we go to great lengths to do so, but given it is a reality of life it leads me to ask if we can learn from its existence and use it to make the world a more human place?
I soon board a plane to Amman in Jordan. I will be visiting the Holy Land Institute for Deaf and Deaf Blind Children, a project that works with children traumatised by the conflict on the West Bank. Another type of pain and suffering, together,no doubt, with shared joys and smiling faces, with plenty of love and humanity to share. Keep watching folks, there will be much to digest, but I am keen to touch heaven again. Maybe that is something of what it might be like, having touched pathos and affected by it, you hold it and go on to the joy that flows. Easy to say I know, but I am finding people who have experienced this and also know how to smile deeply.
While writing this I am pleased to say that the plane journeying towards the window, and me, at the last minute took a turn to the right and parked right at the terminal entrance. I assume it was told to go there – but encountering that plane is a source of pain I have just avoided, for which I am grateful!

A few remarks about the blog:
i hope you are enjoying reading it? Please leave your comments and thanks to those who have already.
i am learning all the time about how to supervise a blog. Please bear with me.
I will add some pictures when I have learned how to do it – but I am also keen not to have people in pictures unless I get their permission. One of the things I don’t like about certain social media is how some post pictures of you without asking. However I will post pictures when I can.
to those who want a linear way – timewise (chronologically speaking) – in reading the blogs in order to understand the development of thought, I am sorry to disappoint. Experiences are coming thick and fast and I have found it difficult to keep up to date with the blog as much as I might. I will try to do better.
however thanks for the feedback and keep it coming!! Sorry, must go I have a plane to catch.