Ahmad Al Charif

Photo of Wadi Rum by: Javier Camacho Gimeno (http://javiercamachogimeno.blogspot.com.es/)

The concept of time is becoming ever more elusive to me. As an 11 year old, the 5 minutes I used to take enjoying my glass of milk on the balcony, while I watched cars pass me by now seem to escape me in a mere second. The magical days I used to spend in sleep overs at friends houses, now pass me by in the blink of an eye. In this age of wonders, and revolution where everybody is connected to everything, all the time, I cannot help but feel distant. Outdated, and out of touch, like an old relic from the past.

I was in Jordan last week, on a business trip. And something happened over there that shook me profoundly. That awoke me; so to speak.

It was night time, and we were sitting in a man made oasis in the middle of the desert. Audio speakers blasting with Arabic music, work colleagues swaying to tunes, dancing, or just drinking and smoking, enjoying the gentle breeze. Artificial lights rendering the night helpless. There were some big tables crowded with food, drinks, and utensils. But for some reason I was not enjoying myself. I had travelled hundreds and maybe thousands of miles, to do something that I could’ve done by walking into a pub.

For reasons I still do not understand, I got up, and started walking. I exited the modern oasis/pub/restaurant, and ventured out into the desert. I walked, and walked. And then I walked some more. Until I felt tired, so I sat down.

I look up, at the marvelous sky, beaming with the lights of stars like none I have ever seen in my life. Real, or fictional. In the world of cgi, and special effects, we have lost touch with real beauty, and now care only to stare at illuminated objects we hold in our hands, as we marvel at what others have seen. Our fire dims, as we loose interest, and as we go back to worrying about trivial things, speaking to people whom we barely know, and not at all care about.

A shooting stars passes above my head, and I feel a shiver in my spine, extending to my entire body, as I for the first time in days, hear the sweet music of the desert in all its majesty, play out softly to my ears. The sands sway along my feet. The stars sparkle ever so brightly, demanding my undivided attention. I look up, and the moon suddenly shines from behind some scattered clouds. Every muscle in my body beckons me to reach for my camera, to try and capture the moment. But I refuse. I surrender to the moment itself. And it takes my breath away. Alone, in a desert. Beneath the stars. A wish? I hear a soft whisper in my ear. I do not bother look around, it does not startle me. It is not an audible voice of a human.

If I were to have one wish, let it be that every single laptop/smart phone/tablet should fail all at once, so that people could finally open their eyes, and truly see all that is there in front o them. Let it be that every piece of technology fails, if only for an instant, to remind us of what is truly of value, and of real meaning. Let us, once again, become humans, and feel with our hearts…