Had I not read up on Islam and the Middle East before heading to Tunisia, 
I would have been totally shocked to discover 
that it really is a men’s world there. 
It’s almost as if women (and children) don’t exist. 
We traveled some 800 miles 
from Tunis to Douz 
through the heart of Tunisia, 
and I was constantly impressed by how the streets were filled with men. 
Where were the women and children?
I mean, I wasn’t surprised to see men working hard doing construction work, 
on road crews, 
and driving trucks. 
That’s hard, heavy work and requires manly strength. 
But, it was very rare to see a woman out at all, 
even shopping, and when I did spot a woman, she was generally covered 
from head to toe in clothing that must have been stifling in such hot weather. 
I’ve read that Muslim women hang out in their homes, 
but as one who loves sunshine, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for them. 
I saw many, many more motorcycles 
—and even goats and sheep—than women or children. 
On the other hand, it seemed there was a group of men sitting under every tree, 
and I wondered why more of them weren’t working. 
I know that since the revolution in 2011 
there has been an unemployment rate upwards of 15%, 
and that is very sad. 
Still, it seemed strange to be in a world devoid of women or children…
even if we were just driving by 
and I was sitting in relative obscurity inside our bus. 
The cafes were filled with men. 
The streets were filled with men. 
The shops were filled with men. 
The markets were filled with men.
Even the taxi stands were filled with men.
It all seemed very dull and oppressive to me, 
like something is very seriously wrong. 
How glum the world seems when more than half the population is excluded!
It also made me very thankful when we arrived later in France 
to be back in a Christian culture where the streets and shops and cafes 
are filled with men and women busily pursuing life together. 
It’s true that Christian cultures sometimes badly misuse their freedoms, 
but I’m so thankful women and children in Christian cultures enjoy great liberty! 
May we choose wisely, live responsibly, 
and be thankful every day for the graces we enjoy! 
“Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:9, NASB).
Summer Setting 