Letters
and comments The electricity just went off for the third time this week. I have a candle in a glass globe lamp next to the computer as the rain comes down in sweet coolness. The land has been so dry after the winter here, but after one rain everything will turn green in one night. Living in the Bush brings me so close to life and all the beauty of Divine creation. Gary and I stared in wonder at a spider web this morning shining with rain drops like a fairy crystal mandala. The other day a small sparrow got caught up in the high rafters of our thatch roof. The windows and doors were about 10 feet below him and it was apparent he couldn't see how to get out. I sat in meditation that afternoon and found myself up on the rafter with the little bird. He was so afraid. I began to talk to him and showed him how to fly down to get out. In a minute he dropped about eight feet and landed on the top of my kitchen cabinets. I kept very still and kept telling him to be unafraid as I stepped onto the counter. Very slowly I reached for the bird who remained very calm in my hands. I carried it to the kitchen window and watched it fly away. I am fascinated by the beetles, the praying mantis, and of course, the zebra, wildebeest, kudu and baboons who frequent this paradise. Last week we had the honor of attending a celebration at a primary school in Acornhoek, the black township in our community. The school has over 900 children in grades K-4, many are orphaned and some families live on 110 rand a month ($18.00 ). Some come to school without having eaten for three days. Daphne, the principal, and the teachers are inspired in spite of that fact that they have four classrooms without desks or chairs. One of Daphne's dreams was to have computers so her kids could enter this century with skills. A telecommunications company built her a building for them. Jeanette, who is working here for Seeds of Light, communicated the need and with the help of a couple people from Seeds of Light South Africa, 10 used computers were donated with software, desks, chairs and file cabinets. As a thank you, the school invited us to join their community including the chief, parents, town councilor and managers of education to an event acknowledging this great gift. About 10 of us from the US, England and Johannesburg joined in the excitement and joy. Children danced and sang, the elders spoke and expressed that a new friendship was forming. The children in that school had only seen four white people before that day which included, Jeanette, Judy, Jo and myself. With tears in our eyes we left feeling we were part of a change, and saw how one person's dream could manifest in countless ways of love and goodwill. It
is possibility that is bringing me here in spite of the poverty,
AIDS, and racism. Many people are wanting to do something
better breaking the bonds of separation. And like elsewhere, there
are those
who want to remain in the status quo. What I notice about
the African people is that they live from their hearts and their
bellies. Through
dance and song, they celebrate even the hardships of their
lives. As
one man told me it was music that kept them going in their
own revolution towards freedom, and it continues to inspire them
today. Their names reveal the love that brought them here, names
like Gift, Precious,
Witness, Wisdom, and Excellent. Can you imagine how
our And yet, there is a long way to go. The injustices of decades will require each and every person to step forward even in a small way. I had dinner with a couple friends the other night who are local Afrikaners, also known as the Boers. Their little boy had been collecting toys for disadvantaged children through his Church. Now his mother and all the women want to come to the school with their children to bring the toys and see what else can be done. It feels so important to me that the local white community here bridge these gaps. Touched by the earth and these people, my heart expands. But nowhere on earth does it open like Egypt. Just stepping out onto the tarmac of the airport, being embraced by Hatem, who says "Welcome Home!" expands my being into Egypt's essence, the color of golden light, the green heart and the flow of energy that can build pyramids and temples to the Gods. Even the modern day Egyptians don't quite know they live in such a paradise because they are like fish in water. Love is their essential nature. It is experiencing this much love that awakens me to the truth of my own nature and what concerned me was how much I had forgotten it in the midst of all the fear that is being perpetuated in the US right now. It feels so important to me that we don't lose our ability to love and to celebrate the gifts of this life as we make deep and hard choices about our futures. Everyone I have met is fixated on our election praying for a leader who is wise and will bring the world together. It is clear that the war in Iraq and the Bush administration has made many feel concerned about the US's desire to dominate and control, not considering the true needs of those countries. No one denies that terrorism is a real threat, and at the same time feels unable to assist as we push our way into what we believe is right. While I haven't read a paper or seen the news in over three weeks, the world's eyes are on us. I can feel the momentum as the election is in a dead heat. I just pray with all the rhetoric we don't create battle lines that cannot be healed with true understanding as we keep pushing for Truth. I don't want to lose my own heart in the process. I will be home on the 19th flying back through Egypt. I hope some of you will be inspired to join me and Bobbie there in March. In the meantime, my heart flows with love for you. Blessings
to you and all you love, | |
