An unlearned lesson

The gate keeper just left for dinner and with him went all the electricity, so it is here that I type this entry by candle light. Power outages are not uncommon here in Rwanda; I typically move from day to day knowing that there is a high possibility I may be without current for periods of time. You prepare for it, but not plan because these acts are random. In Saint Vincent, they would schedule the power outages and post them in the news paper, making it easy for me to plan my week around. They may do that here but I can’t read their language, so these acts remain random.

I only point this out, because a constant source of electricity is yet another thing we take for granted in America. Because it’s a common occurrence for me I am prepared, making sure I have plenty of gas to cook with and candles to burn. In America it would be considered a nuisance, leaving you to miss your favorite television shows and causing many to stand up in protest at the thought of not being artificially cooled….except for those living in Texas; that last statement does not apply. For many living in developing countries, however, lack of electricity means an opportunity to becoming involved. Act such as these provide an opportunity for you to step out of your often, self imposed bubble and become involved once more in your surroundings. This is missing in America, we need more power outages, we need more opportunities for people to take a break from their Iphones and laptops and become involved once more in life.

My theory is that the lack of casual conversation or interest in that which surrounds you is something that is unique to western culture and while I haven’t traveled through enough countries to draw a definitive conclusion it seems that those that are poor in money are rich in spirit. In Rwanda as it was in Saint Vincent what people lack in tangible items they make up for in the experiences they share as a family and more so as a community. A child may be born into a family, yet it is the property of the community and the responsibility of both family and community to see that each child is instilled with the moral upbringing that will mold them into successful adults and thus foster a stronger community. I feel that this idea of responsibility to the community is lost among Itunes and emails, something that many of the rural poor have little knowledge, Instead they sit and talk. Talking about everything from when the rains will come to what everyone will wear to their child’s wedding next week.

If I am right and those that are poor in money are rich in spirit, then those that are rich with money should posses less community spirit? In that case poverty becomes a relative word, Africa is the poster child for poverty but are they really that poor? Yes many Africa nations have food shortages and governments that are less than honest, but the people stand strong sharing what little they have, surviving often times on the belief that tomorrow will be better than today…it has to.

The point here is, as you move through your day move as if you’re prepared for the lights to go out. Appreciate what you got, for there are those that have much less, but treat each day as if it’s a wet rag, squeezing every ounce of opportunity from life as it unfolds , savoring every drop as if it were the last, a lesson that too often goes unlearned.