Too much fear, too much food, too much hate, too much violence,
too much water running down concrete sidewalks.
Too many cars, too many opinions, too many words, too little
said.
To little connection, too little kindness, too little
empathy, too little curiosity, wonder, awe.
Reverse culture sock has been a problem in the past. Being
overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of stuff available to us- the ease in which
people buy and spend and waste. For the first time in years, I am not heading
back right away: I can’t focus on the simpler life I have in Gulu- walking,
talking, connecting. I am alarmed and saddened by friends and family who
support a venom spewing old man, who has never worked for anything a day in is
live, who hates women, and degrades and ridicules everything I old to be sacred-
love, service, compassion, kindness.
I believe in people still. I have seen those with nothing
give everything and those with everything give nothing. I started on Facebook
as a way to share my travels with family and friends…to stay in touch. I now
have friends from around the world. But it is not a place of kindness or
intellectual exchange, and the negativity is too much. I will stop using Facebook
for the time being. I will be on messenger, WhatsApp and for my local friends
my phone number is 541-613-6216….at least for now. Let’s have lunch, or go for
a walk, or just sit in the park. Turn off the TV, put down the computer and go
talk to your neighbor…don’t judge them, don’t judge anyone…who are we to judge?
Live by example in kindness.
