El Marsam Studio - Morning of Light, an Egyptian Journal

Morning of Light

an Egyptian Journal

ROOMS WITH A VIEW - ITALY | ROOMS WITH A VIEW and BEYOND

It was after midnight when we arrived in Cairo. The darkness only fuelled my excitement. I was eager to discover my new surroundings and sleep did not come easily. Dawn still waited to lift the blanket of night when an unfamiliar sound brought me out of my fitful sleep. I listened to the morning call to prayer, voices rising, reaching out and touching one another in a concert above the rooftops. Rousing the faithful from their slumber, the muezzins cried – I later learned – “It is better to pray than to sleep.”

Outside my window, I saw no minarets, domes or pyramid shapes through the dawning light. A dusty grayness only hinted of sand-colored buildings of no particular design. Yet, the lingering echoes of the call to prayer filled every space of my heart and seemed a fitting welcome to Cairo, the city that was to become my new home. I was finally in Egypt, the country I had dreamed of for so long. How could I rest? In the light of morning, Egypt would reveal herself to me. Her mystery, her magic, her spirit…

In the months and years that followed, I found myself surrounded by a people whose warmth spread as did the morning light. I felt accepted and at home. Their simplicity taught me the richness of simple living. Their playfulness reinforced my sense of adventure and their laughter was a balm when my spirits felt bruised. Their gentleness nurtured trust and eliminated the fear that has become so much a part of everyday life in the modern world. Their old-fashioned ways reflected a contentment that comes to those who still work with their hands, proving that speed and sophisticated technology are not always better. Their unwavering faith in the goodness and wisdom of God strengthened my own.

Egypt, above all other countries that I have known, has enlarged and enriched my world. My life would not have been complete without Egypt in it.

Coptic Priest The Camel Dealers Sinai Bedouin Aswan Felucca Two Shepherds


Coptic Priest	The Camel Dealers	Sinai Bedouin	Aswan Felucca	Two Shepherds