Freedom!
I'll call her Mary. She came in to interview with me.
"My family came from Iran when I was 16 because of religious persecution." I don't know what my question was, but I remember that answer. I quietly closed my notebook. I wasn't really interested in asking my next question about the best book she has read recently. I wanted to hear her story. I got the feeling she was a really interesting, walking, non-fiction.
"Tell me your story..." I wanted to leave it open-ended and let her talk. And she told me about her family and growing up years--and about her faith.
"We were one of the only Christian families I knew. Kids wouldn't sit next to me at school. My father was a physician, but he couldn't get a job because he was a Christian."
I asked her to tell me more and she did.
From small things: "You can't possess playing cards." To more serious things: "All women have to wear the head-scarf--or you could go to jail. And if you go to jail, no one really knows what happens"
She talked about women essentially being treated as property of their husband. "You can't just go where you want. If your husband wants you back at the house, you go."
I told her I am so glad she and her family are here.
“Yes, I’m very happy! I appreciate freedom. I became a citizen 5 years ago. I love America!”
"When you experience hardships, you appreciate things," she said. She went on to tell me that she recently debated a student in law school who was talking about the plight of women in America. She said, "I know nowhere is perfect, but I tried to bring perspective compared to other places."
Are you happy to be in America?
"Yes, I'm very happy! I appreciate freedom. I became a citizen 5 years ago. I love America!"
A gentle rain fell outside the office window that morning near downtown Los Angeles as we talked. And Mary's perspective was like a gentle rain. Refreshing.
Freedom is a treasure!