We went to see “The Time Traveller’s Wife” (in Russian) on the weekend. In the film Eric Bana spends all his time, against his will, appearing and disappearing in and out of the future, past and present. When he travels, his clothes don’t come with him so he arrives naked and must steal clothes and money, try to find out when and where he is and work out how to survive until he moves again.
As we are preparing to leave Kazakhstan and re-enter Australia, we realised we feel a lot like this Time Traveller. We aren’t changing time dimensions but we have spent the last 20 years going back and forwards from what seems like two parallel universes – different people, different cultures, different activities, different worlds! Each time we go on furlough, we have the experience of gradually “disappearing” from Kazakhstan as we finish off activities and say goodbyes. Then we gradually materialise in Australia – reconnect with people and places, unpack old stuff and put it into a new house, get the kids in schools, universities, clubs, sports, find new friends etc. Then after 6-12 mths we reverse the process and go back to Kazakhstan.
After 19 years we are leaving Kazakhstan and this cycle we finally stop. As we gradually “disappear” - stop doing things that we always were involved in, give away and sell things that have been part of our home and lives we have a feeling of “disappearing” bit by bit from the lives of people here. The first time people watch Eric Bana disappear in the movie, they can’t believe it’s real. When he tells them about what is happening to him. they think he is crazy but when they see it , they can't argue with it. There is a time between these worlds when the Time traveller just isn't anywhere. That is surely the most disconcerting and worrying.
His daughter, also a time traveller, tells him that she controls the process by singing. Perhaps we can control some of this strange experience of watching our lives “disappear” and of others watching us “disappear”, by “singing” the Lord’s song. It doesn't stop us going through the process but it brings with it some peace and sense of protection.
The Traveller comes back to one place which is his home dimension but for us I think there will always be a sense that there are two! Maybe some of you from our current dimension will one day materialise in our "other world". We will leave a folded set of clothes and some shoes near the clearing for you!
