Friday, December 13, 2013

Wednesday Wish (102); Replenish

photo by katerina plotnikova

I sat cross-legged on the grass. It was itchy in the way tropical grass always is. Was it uncomfortable with itself, too? Grass never seemed as happy in the heat as palm trees or orchids or gardenias did. Maybe their itch was their way of expressing themselves. But before I could wonder anymore, a few people sat down beside me …

One had a bone through his nose. He said it was for picking food out of his teeth or getting dirt from under his fingernails. I thought him resourceful. And his eyes, they talked kindly to me. Another sat down with tattoos all over her face. They highlighted the beauty that she was. A darker brown on her brown was beautiful. She nursed a baby on one breast and a pig on the other. She was smiling. I was, too. So was the man with the bone in his nose. Still more joined us. I can’t remember all of them, but each was unique, each was beautiful, each touched me with their genuine selves worn so effortlessly.

They asked me questions. Why my skin was so light. Why my hair was so straight and long. Could I help them grow their hair long, too? Could they have some of it to remember me by? And then ... they asked me what I would do when I went back to my home country, when I went back to where I was from. I swallowed hard and decided to tell them the truth.

“When I go home,” I said with tender eyes, “I will have to get a job. I will have to work. And probably not on the land, but in a building.”

“Work? Inside? But why would you want to do that?” they said to me.

“To make money. Because, you see, if I don’t have money, I won’t have a place to live or food to eat. If I don’t have money, I will go hungry.”

Their faces looked at me, blankly. And then the man with the bone in his nose said, “Don’t you have land to use? Don’t you have family? Can’t you plant sweet potatoes?”

“I can plant sweet potatoes and I will, but still, I will have to work to pay for my house, just as the rest of my family does. It is what we all do in the United States. We must. To survive. We have to work for not just what we want, but what we need. And sometimes we even have to work at jobs that we don’t like just to have enough money to live.”

And do you know how that beautiful group of natives reacted that day in the heart of Papua New Guinea?

They wailed.
They wailed with tears streaming down their faces.
For me.
For you.
For all who struggle in a system that doesn’t naturally feed their souls.


*          *          *


My Wish? That you replenish your soul. That you see the system you were born into and work through it. Not against it, but through it. There are always ways to replenish your soul. There are always ways to feed your spirit. Listen to your soul’s desires. Honor those desires, those wishes, those secret, but not forgotten, dreams. Let them guide you to a life of your own choosing, a life that you love, a life that makes you feel as if you have wings. Then fly, my dear …. FLY!


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is my 3rd attempt to leave a comment (blogspot doesn't like me)... Wanted to let you know how much I loved this post, this story. Began my day cuddled up in bed with my daughter, reading it to her. Lovely in the way such a simple story tells so very much. Reminds me of Eduardo Galeano's writing.

Anonymous said...

I have to agree...this is a very special story. But that should not surprise me knowing you.

Brynne said...

I am soo sorry posting is in any way complicated, dear T! I wish I could fix it myself!

To think that you read this to your beautiful daughter all cuddled up together in bed warms me to no end. Thank you soo much for sharing, for being in my life, for being such a beautiful bright light in the world.

Brynne said...

Thank you, dear Jo. Happy Christmas from up over, my friend. I wish I could hug you. OooOoO...I just did. And I'm dreaming you got it:)

Bella said...

Dearest Brynne, my life has been a series of unfortunate events as of late. Please forgive my absence to this magical space where you weave your words in charming visuals that allow us to dream and visit faraway places. I'm afraid I'm not much fun when I'm suffering from a case of the blues and so, I've stayed away from the blogosphere--just for a bit. I'm slowly reincorporating myself and so happy to have read this post! Oh, to live in such a place where life is composed of living and not surviving! Your words touched my soul today, and as always, inspired me to think. I have missed you, friend! Hugs and kisses to you from Roxy and me! :)

Brynne said...

my dear, dear Bella...I wish you were closer so I could join you in your blues. I would take your hand and show you the love that surrounds you, nay, holds you in its arms. I would show you the beauty that is you, that touches all of us who know you and even those who don't. And I would look you in the eye, that pathway to your soul, and tell you how beautiful you are. In every single way. My dear, dear Bella...you are always fun, always beautiful, always pure love. You just forget sometimes, that's all. So come to me whenever you do for I will remind you. I will remind you of the magic that is you. My bella Bella...