Muezzin + Turkish coffees

Contrasting elements everywhere!

Streets filled with signs, houses covered in advertisements, colorful, big and small ones, fixed or as a flag moving with the wind, two story houses next to 7 levels, historical ones from the 16.th century and poor standards side-by-side.
A mix-up of languages, cultures, bargains, pickpockets, elements without any order, moving chadors or women in mini and top, thousands of tourists, hills and water ways, cars, planes, busses and ships.
Muezzins making sounds, at regular recurring times – also at night, awakening you in the middle of a peaceful dream.
Pulsating traffic, transportation without any recognizable or connected system, not even the taxi drivers would know, where to find places. Especially to mention the habit to blow the horn for almost every situation – “Attention, I am coming”, “Get out of my way!”, “Idiot!”, “Hello neighbor, nice to meet you!”. Tooting signs are definitely an additional language that you need to learn in order to move safely through the streets. Ah, and watch out before crossing the street too. A red traffic light does not necessary also mean, that cars would stop. Best you learn to walk at a red traffic light, cause then the car will at least blow the horn and you will hear it before it knocks you over! :-))

I sometimes felt like being in the midst of a beehive. Vibrations, sounds, cars, smog, screams, everyone and everything moved at the same time, somewhere without direction – no silence, no rest……. BUT it was so much alive! Excitement, attraction, power...... MAGNATIC FACINATION!

AND then in the midst of this chaos, coffee or tea drinking people, games at bars (mostly men), talks, communication on the streets, as if there is nothing else to do, no work, no hassle, no rush, someone offering you a cup of tea - a sign of acceptance and respect, taking time an honor….. Good to learn for a stressed out German, isn’t it???
Remarkable also meditating people among this pulsating mess, singing recurring tones or murmuring words like mantras…… Was that meant to lift them up to a higher level of spirituality, or silence??? Old hands holding wooden necklaces for prayers. BUT what hit me with watching these men and women, prayer seemed to be naturally in public yet very private. I thought from Muslim prayer rituals, I can learn a sincerity, eagerness, commitment even knowing they need to earn their way to heaven thought doing so…..

How do I pray? Is the Lord really as much integrated into my daily activities and do I find the silence to pray among traffic lights? Is my believe as sincere that I can call out into the public without being a little bit embarrassed? How strong is my prayer life if I am confronted in public? What about my commitment to pray regular and how important are sometimes other things compared to prayer??? Lot’s of questions which ask for answers…..

Yes, the contrast of life in Istanbul was definitely, what struck me most!!!