"When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world."
- George Washington Carver (1864-1943), African-American Scientist, Teacher, and Inventor
There is a tradition that says, 'Mevlana (Rumi) calls people to Konya from all over the world. A person doesn't merely come to Konya, she or he is called to come.' Being here for me has been a powerful experience in knowing myself; I have met some of the most wonderful people here, people whom I hope to call friend for the rest of my life. This experience has been an irreplaceable one. In the face of negativity that my wife and I experience sometimes as outsiders, and sometimes as African-heritage people, I am comforted in the fact that Mevlana (Rumi) has called me here in the spirit of love and growth, and shown me amazing things, ideas, and people. It is less an obstacle than an opportunity; it is less a thought of 'what can Rumi do for me' and more a decision to ask 'what can I do for Rumi'?
