Ever since Islam, Muslims and the idea of religious belief fascinated me, I was convinced that I would find it very difficult to set foot in a Muslim's house. Muslims for me were wonderous and mysterious people who I could never hope to understand. I find it hard enough understanding why people believe in God and follow religions the way they do, let alone Islam in particular. And also with all the media showing angry Muslims shouting and protesting all the time - not that I seriously think that's all they have time for in those countries. Or going on Youtube to find lectures about Islam, often you find shouty turbaned Muslims talking about how great they are and how everyone else is scum - one tends to begin to think of Islam as an exclusive golf club, one which a person must first become a premium member to even say hello!!

That was the view I had, and so when I met Mehdi he started our conversation about Iran, the Shah and the revolution in 1979. I knew a little about this, as my dad was travelling through Iran in 1979 and had left just before all hell broke loose. 

But anyway! After one afternoon at a 'Learn the truth of Islam" event, involving many cups of tea, biscuits, kebabs, kebab sandwiches, more kebabs and huge cakes and a tour of the synagogue-converted mosque!!! We became close friends. Something I never would have dreamed of. But then another dream was answered after, I called him and explained I wanted to learn more about Islam and he invited me to dinner at his home. I went, there was amazing food and all attention was focused on the God-given guest. I was the blue-eyed boy in town baby! haha! I fitted it so well, we laughed and joked about politics and religion. I learnt so much more about Iran and Islam. I taught his children how to play chess and how to programme in HTML - although I didn't know too much! I'm much better with Visual Basic and Access. 
The big prize came when I stayed over his place for a weekend. That's when it dawned on me. For one thing, I was also visiting friends whom I had found it difficult to talk with. I went and it was like we were long lost pals, we hugged and chatted all through the night. It was that night that I thought that I had at some point dreamed of these times and now they have come true one after the other. 

And of course you know what my dream was... what would it be like if I were invited to a Muslim wedding with traditional Islamic ways? It would be amazing! Religions and holy texts mostly teach about relationships, how people should treat each other. They include ethics to guide this, like don't steal or kill and give to charity, be accepting to other's beliefs. What better way to experience a religion and learn about religious beliefs, than take part in a religious wedding - an Islamic wedding. 

So far these dreams have been under-rated compared with reality. I have been accepted into a Muslim family's home, but more than that, I was accepted as part of their family. Their son calls me his big brother we miss each other so much when I have to leave. I am going to a traditional Islamic wedding. I've heard that the bride is very religious and traditional and so that's the way it's got to be for the wedding! But more than this it is in Iran - I country I never would have thought I would be able to visit given the touchy political situation there is, and all those ridiculous sanctions. Iran, Persia, Prince of Persia video games, flying Persian carpets! Aladdin! (may not be Persian but he springs to mind), mosque domes, beautiful chicks ;) . It is such a place I had only known the name of before and now I discover it is right up my alley! The place for me.

Man-o-man this is getting to be a big journal - I do hope you're reading on from this and have got this far! Get a cup of tea if you'd like it's nearly over :) . I personally can only tolerate really long messages if they are an entertaining read so I hope you are enjoying this !!!

So... back to the beginning. Tying the beginning with the end - what coincidence! Yeah... my problem is, I should be over the top excited about this, but I'm not... I'm very scared and nervous and hopefully now you can understand why. Now that you have got to know me a little better and can appreciate how important this is for me. Is it this that makes going to Iran scary? How it feels that going there will cross off another dream in my mind, and once again link back to some early times in my life. It makes me feel like, this experience will shape my entire life for years to come - and thinking that makes me nervous to make the most of this trip. 

Ahh, I wanted to get that off my chest. I'm thinking that things will be a lot different when I am there and so there is very little I can practically do to prepare for it, other than prepare for any other holiday. What do you think?

I remember from my Philosophy classes, that a religious experience had once been defined by some clever philosopher who I can't remember the name of, that a religious experience is one when the person feels "at one with the universe". I think I have felt that lots of times but it didn't make me think of God or anything more define than art or something beautiful. I prefer my definition that it is when you feel there is "too much coincidence to be coincidence" sounds confusing eh? All I feel is that so many of my dreams have come true so very quickly one after the other which that alone makes me feel nervous about what to dream for! Like there's a genie around here somewhere. But it feels like the universe was acting for my benefit during those moments - too much coincidence to be coincidence. 

Please tell me all what you think!! (if you've read this far) Express your ideas about anything I've mentioned here please!! Have you ever felt you were touched by something supernatural, beyond this existence? Ever had a religious experience? Sorry about the length, I promise you not all my entries will be this long :)

See ya