A Bosnian Journey

Its 9:50 on a Wednesday morning. Religion teacher Thomas Simpson stands at the podium of the church, listening to his Bosnian friends’ introductory music before he begins his meditation.Last week, Simpson’s meditation titled “All We Have Left: A Bosnian Journey”, was recently published online by Numéro Cinq Magazine along with a collection of Bosnian poems by Goran Simic which he edited over the summer.Since his first visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2004, Simpson has gone back multiple times to study and immerse himself in the Bosnian culture. He has displayed a passion for the country and began writing his essay a little over two years ago. Although it first began as jumbled notes written on a plane ride, Simpson quickly realized his notes could transform into a meditation."I started writing the essay in the summer of 2012, in my travel notebook, on the plane ride home from Sarajevo,” he said.

“As soon as the pages of notes started to become something, I started to sense that I had a meditation on my hands, something that I wanted to share with students and colleagues back home."Now, Simpson’s scrap notes have become a polished piece of writing that shows his insightful personality and deep connection with Bosnia. Although his meditation gradually transformed into a professional and public piece of literature, Simpson still believes a successful meditation is one that tells a meaningful story, regardless of the level of the author’s writing.“I know that some adults in the community can be reluctant to offer a meditation, because sometimes we get the idea that a meditation should be professionally polished, even publishable,” he said.“But the meditation program isn't about that. It's about telling a good, heartfelt story for people you care about -- and for people who care about you.”Central parts of the meditation revolve around Merima Ključo, an accordionist who came to campus this past week to perform with guitarist Miroslav Tadić. Ključo grew up in Sarajevo, the main setting of the piece.

In an excerpt of the author’s notes preceding, Simpson explains to us the purpose and the dedications behind his writing.“This essay is dedicated and addressed to one of my dearest Bosnian friends, a fiercely private soul trying desperately, in exile, to put the pieces of his life together again.” Simpson continues, expressing his thanks for those who had aided him.“By implication and extension, it is also for all the Bosnians who have welcomed the stranger, who have sheltered and known me in the darkness. For their unflinching solidarity, for their unfiltered love, I am eternally grateful.”Religion teacher Kathleen Brownback believes Simpson certainly succeeded in telling a touching story. She explained how Simpson’s loving passion for Bosnia was reflected in his recent publication.

“A meditation is a reflection on something of significance to the speaker, usually an experience of depth, sometimes of pain or difficulty or vulnerability,” she said. “His mediation was all of those.”Brownback went on to describe some of the specific images of the meditation that stemmed from Simpson’s experiences in Bosnia and added yet another level of emotional tension to the piece by revealing the mixed history of elegancy and calamity in Bosnia.“There were many images that were memorable,” she said.“I particularly remember him describing his friend Merima, who played the accordion in assembly today, on a stage before 11,541 empty red chairs standing in for all those who were killed in the siege of Sarajevo. I remember him describing a once beautiful but now destroyed restaurant on top of a ski mountain and the ruined bobsled track used in the 1984 Olympics. The beauty and the tragedy of the country were so close together.”Senior Robert Conner agreed with Brownback. He saw Simpson’s meditation as a great opportunity for students to learn about Bosnia in the soothing environment of a meditation.“Knowing how dedicated Mr. Simpson is in regards to the multi layered issues and topics that encompass Bosnia and given how he is dedicated to those topics and made numerous travels to Bosnia, it is a privilege for the community to be able to learn more about Mr. Simpson and about the contemporary history topics of Bosnia in the more relaxed and sentimental environment of his meditation,” Conner said.Simpson’s ability to understand and connect with others also helped him create a very well-rounded meditation. Lower Darius Kahan explained how Simpson’s ability to connect with students in his class added a new layer of personality to his meditation.“He is such an emotionally deep and affectionate person who is always out to help other people and understand feelings,” he said. “I could imagine how he could connect with people by writing a meditation so deep and emotional.”Indeed, Simpson’s ability to understand others also allows him to teach his students how to add their personalities and thoughts into their own meditations.Lower Eric Tang described the guidance Simpson provided him and his class about putting a piece of themselves into their meditation.

“In one of his classes we had to write our own mini meditation on some experience that had shaped our lives,” Eric said.

“I remember how helpful Mr. Simpson was in shaping our own meditations and helping us find the inner thoughts and experiences within ourselves.”Relating his own writing to his colleagues and students, Simpson urges others to take part in this practice and recognizes the difficulties and vulnerabilities that may present themselves throughout the process.“I know that some adults in the community can be reluctant to offer a meditation, because sometimes we get the idea that a meditation should be professionally polished, even publishable. But the medita- tion program isn't about that,” he said.“It's about telling a good, heartfelt story for people you care about -- and for people who care about you.”