(Sorry, no pictures or funny stories for this one)
Becoming immune has been a good thing for our family here in Malawi. Coming into a new climate and a whole new bunch of illnesses and viruses for our bodies to adjust to has caused some suffering. A couple months after we arrived, all of us except for Sarah (seems that she’s the strong one) got quite sick and had to fight through some sicknesses our bodies had not experienced before. Even now our bodies seem to still be adjusting to different things we eat and drink - details I don’t need to go into.
God did create the human body in a pretty amazing way, and we have adjusted to many of the new things here - be they illnesses, hotter climate, different foods - and we are becoming more and more immune to any ill effects of this different part of the world. Our bodies are not suffering through the adjustment phase like before, which is a good thing.
However, I think there is another immunity that I’m developing that I’m not so sure is a good thing. I seem to become immune to the wide spread suffering of others in a poverty-stricken country like Malawi. It’s all around me, but I don’t always give it a second thought, but just accept it as a “normal” part of life.
Whether it’s the suffering of the families impacted by flooding in different parts of the country - families that have been forced from their homes and have lost their crops. The suffering of the malnourished children I meet out in the villages we work in. The endless number of beggars both old and young - some of them inflicted with polio and other diseases we in the developed world receive immunizations for - that approach me every time I’m in town asking for whatever I can spare. The many people that come to our house asking for money because they or a loved one is sick or hungry, or some come asking for piece work to make some money. The stories I read in the local newspaper about all too common road accidents, children orphaned because parents have died of AIDS. Even those that we work with here have stories about suffering and death that I can’t even begin to imagine.
When I really think about the suffering in this part of the world seems endless. So how have I become so immune to it? Why has it become so “normal” and “acceptable” in my mind? Even to the point that I get annoyed when some of these people in need “inconvenience” my day or “invade my privacy”. I seem forget that these people are just as much a human being as I am.
The needs of the poor here do seem endless, and we could give and give until we have nothing and there would still be needs. It’s hard to find that balance between helping others because I have been blessed with so much, and still being realistic about it all. Unfortunately, there are those that will make up fictitious tales to try and get some money as well - which in the end adds to my immunity. Yet as a Christian wanting to following the clear direction on helping those in need, I’m also challenged by the fact that Jesus does NOT say “Only give to the poor who you judge to think are deserving”. Am I deserving of the opportunities I’ve had in life because of the country I come from?
I guess this blog is more about questions than answers. I just hope that this immunity to the suffering of others can turn into a little more compassion. I’m sure that showing compassion is part of the reason why God has us here.
Back home in Canada, I don’t see the physical suffering that I see here (there is this suffering, we just have an easier job of hiding ourselves from it), but there are other types of suffering. How many times have we been too busy, or too consumed with our hectic schedules (full of worthy activities), or simply disinterested in showing compassion to those that could use it? We all need it at different points in our life.
I better stop before I get (even more) preachy. But please don’t get me wrong, I’m preaching to myself as much as anyone else.
