I wrote my first post for this Lenten blog before the U.S.-Israel-Iran war began. As I mentioned then, I am not one who rushes toward danger, but life has a funny way of disregarding your preferences.
Throughout the first day of the conflict, friends in Abu Dhabi texted us about hearing loud booms and seeing smoke, yet in Dubai, it remained a beautiful, balmy day. In the early evening, my partner, Troy, and I headed to our hotel’s rooftop terrace. Though it was still light out, the almost-full moon was already visible above the skyline where the Burj Khalifa—the world’s tallest building—was shimmering in the twilight. As we watched the day fade in an orange glow, it was so quiet and peaceful that we wondered if the conflict would reach us.
It did—in exactly 31 minutes.
We were on our phones looking for news when we heard something streak overhead, followed by a deafening boom and saw a rising plume of black smoke. It was debris from an intercepted missile landing less than a city block away.
[Photo 1: February 28, 5:54 PM] Enjoying the view on the rooftop terrace
[Photo 2: February 28, 6:08 PM] Sunset
[Photo 3: February 28, 6:39 PM] Black smoke rising into the sky
It was surreal. Was this really happening? We headed to the lobby, which was buzzing with people. Troy and I stepped outside—admittedly, not the smartest move—to see at least half a dozen emergency vehicles, sirens wailing, streaking around the corner. Troy wanted to see the impact site. I was curious too, but reluctantly insisted we go back inside. The hotel’s general manager announced that chairs were being set up in the basement parking garage. After gathering our passports, we sat there for two hours. With no further alerts, we eventually returned to our room.
Adrenaline made sleep difficult, but we finally drifted off, only to be jolted awake around 1:00 AM by the ear-splitting sound of emergency alerts on our phones and throughout the hotel. A few more alerts followed, and we spent much of the rest of the night in the basement.
The Gift of Humor
It has now been over a week since the war began, and we are thankful that Dubai has been quieter since that first night. On a recent morning, Troy, ever the calm optimist, shared the news: only about 100 drones and six missiles had targeted the UAE the night before. They were “the small ones,” Troy added enthusiastically, all intercepted, with no one hurt and no major damage.
I laughed out loud. Only six missiles? And they were the small ones?
Humor is a key ingredient for cultivating courage. I am so grateful that my partner and our friends here have no shortage of it. Two nights ago, we were at Iftar—the meal to break the fast during Ramadan—and just as we finished eating, an emergency alert sounded. My chest tightened, but there was barely a ripple in the room as people continued eating and chatting. As the musician continued to play his oud, Troy joked, “It’s like the violinists on the Titanic.”
When our friend, Mohammed, asked if we should shelter in place or make the 30-minute drive back to the hotel, Troy and our other friend, Stefan, answered simultaneously: “It’s harder to hit a moving target.” As we climbed into the SUV, Mohammed joked about closing the sunroof for “extra protection.” Without missing a beat, Troy added, “Keep it open so I can watch the sky and tell you whether to swerve left or right.”
The Power of Choice
Another key to courage is choice. We lack control over many things, including being stuck in a war zone, but we can choose our response. We can choose to stay in the present moment.
I have always wanted to learn how to live in the “now.” They say the best way to learn a language is immersion; if that’s true, this experience is boot camp for Zen. Present moment. Present moment. Present moment.
The Strength of Community
Finally, courage is cultivated through connection. I have been buoyed by the outpouring of love from family, friends, and my Marble Collegiate Church family. The Lenten small group led by Dr. Elise Brown has also been a source of strength.
Interestingly, last week’s focus word was “Choice,” and this week’s is “God’s Presence.” I see that Presence in the choice and timing of those words and the assigned Scripture readings. They couldn’t be more perfect. Some might call it a coincidence, but I choose to see it as God at work in my life.
The airspace recently reopened. Our first flight was canceled, and we’re now booked on a flight back to the States on Friday. If that flight is canceled, we have a prior reservation for Cairo. Our boys were supposed to join us in Dubai last week, and we were planning to take them to see the pyramids. They are still begging to come. I’ll have to ask them where their courage comes from!
We are choosing to trust that whether we are on that plane or not on Friday, God is with us, and that is where our safety lies.
Verses for Courage
These are my favorite Scripture verses from the Lenten small group. They have been my anchor.
Psalm 46: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear… He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Psalm 56: When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Psalm 121: The Lord will keep you from all harm. He will watch over your life. The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Psalm 73: You guide me with your counsel and afterward you will take me into glory. (This one made me chuckle; I found myself adding, “Hopefully, You don’t take me in the near future!”)
Reflection Questions
- We often feel at the mercy of our circumstances. When faced with a situation today that felt out of your control, what “choice” did you make about your internal reaction?
- Courage is often found in unlikely places. Think of a time when laughter helped you survive a difficult moment. How did finding the humor help you maintain your connection to God or others?
- We often look for grand signs, but God’s presence can show up in a “still, small voice” or the timing of a theme. Where have you noticed God showing up for you this week?
Shared by Patricia Wu
Leave a Reply