8/17/09
Sunrises in Malawi
Lake water so clear you can see schools of brightly colored fish lazily feeding around the rocks that decorate the bottom.
Then there are odd-colored streams full of plastic bags swirling round women washing dirty clothes by slamming them on the wet rocks.
Primeval plains filled with elephants, hyenas, kudus, hippos and all the supporting caste members.
But there are also fences keeping hordes of people from further encroaching on natural habitat.
Almost everywhere you go where civilization has not encroached, you are surrounded by innocent smiles and inquisitive eyes that are open invitations to their souls.
Then you refocus and see problems so immense that solutions are complicated and elusive.
Africa, continent of dichotomies.
I have recently returned from a two week trip to Malawi, the “warm heart of Africa”. It is said to be one of the poorest countries on the continent, but also one of the most stable.
It also changed my life.
“…the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;…” Psalm 19
While sitting on the shore of magnificent lake Malawi that covers two thirds of the country, I read that verse for the umpteenth time, but this reading was an unexpected stop sign. How can the simple, the unworldly, the innocent become wise? How does that work?
Being a bit hard-headed and also hard of hearing, I looked around. I was surrounded by a bunch of young adults with whom I had unexpectedly fallen in love.
Who didn’t have any pretenses. Who didn’t play social games. Who didn’t withhold affection. Who served. Who had time for knowing each other, and me.
They changed lives by simply listening and loving, communicating infinite wisdom without words.
Words just don’t do justice to the sunrises in Malawi.
