Terrible Calm

Angel of Gardening
Originally uploaded by Mattlong.

Over the last few weeks I have had some tremendous experiences. There are a great many things that I can see more clearly, a great many things which I now realize to be a blessing.

This largely began with my mission trip to Jamaica: to see the poor and suffering there; to be there with them and listen to them and in some way share with them in their suffering. I do not deceive myself: I was not able to do a great deal for them while I was among them.

However, I have come away with an increased sense of gratefulness, a more compassionate heart and a prayer and a mission to live my life in a way that helps others to understand the true unity of this human race. Or, at least, help others to realize that true peace is our ultimate goal and that it can only be had when unity among us is realized. A union not only encompassing those who are marginalized because of social status, but also because of disability, because of belief and because of race.

And just on the heels of this comes the election of Mr. Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States of America. To me, this was not as shocking as it was to many of my friends and family. Certainly, they say, history was made, not only because history is made with the election of any president of the USA, but because of the colour of his skin.

But truthfully, I did not feel this "historic event" to weigh on my mind in the same way it did among many of the people around me. The truth of the matter to me is that he is human. I suppose, to me, it is more surprising THAT IT WAS so surprising to these people. The surprise was that there was reason to doubt him being elected purely based on the fact that the USA "might not be ready" to elect a Black president. Do we not live in the 21st century? Have we in the Western World not forgotten such differences?!

A friend of mine just recently returned from a trip to Alabama and she said that the remnants of the slave trade and race segregation can still be seen there, its chill still felt. I find it so alien that, in this world-leading nation, there could be such cause to allow for these superficial differences to have such an effect on society. And to allow these superficial differences to effect palpable and alienating social circumstances...

It boggles my mind. But here we are, in a great position to make a great change.

Then again, weren't we always in such a position?