Home » Snake-men, cheesecake and the conundrum of child labor.
Snake-men, cheesecake and the conundrum of child labor.
Don’t think for a minute that I haven’t noticed the six month gap in posting. I took a tiny break from anything and everything that wasn’t Goa. It became a kind of chrysalis for me, a place of transformation. Only with dolphins and felafel and beaches inside of it. Now that I am in North Inida, I’m all better, and bursting with things to say.
Rather than try to catch everyone up, I will just forge ahead as if nothing happened. I might do flashbacks.
Let’s test a theory. I am told that post are more interesting if you add a picture…
Interested yet? Hey I know, amazing things are going on all around me and all I can manage to show you is a thinly veiled attempt to show off my left bicep. What did you expect, me giving the Dalai Lama a noogie?
By now, surely I have shaken off all but the most tenacious readers. Hats off to you if you are reading this.
So anyhoo, today met a man who’s spiritual master was evidently a 115 year old were-snake. He showed me a picture of a scruffy wild man in a polyester suit that was supposedly moonlighting as a cobra. This man assured me that my next two months would be lucky. I was doubtful.
I mean look, snakes are nocturnal so he would never get any sleep. Have you ever sat at the feet of a spiritual master who never slept? All mumbles. Plus he would begin each day with raw whole rats in his belly. Filling yes, but unsanitary. The whole story is full of holes.
The funny thing is, he would probably call me nuts for believing in Jesus. But although ironically enough, Christ could be reasonably called a were-God. Wow, I wonder if that connection has ever been made.
Just as I was shaking off that experience, I saw a fascinating and somehow tragic sight. It was a small girl balancing five cooking pots on her head, on a 8 foot tightrope, on the edge of a sheer cliff. Did I mention she was walking on a bike wheel? She did this with all the ho-hum and world weariness of a McDonald’s fry box stuffer, only infinitely more likely to be gruesomely killed from some small error.
I was torn between applauding and jouncing the rope so that she would tumble into my waiting arms, then whisking her off to the nearest school for a real chance in life. I would slap her parents on my way out, who were providing all the music but none of the safety measures you might expect from doting parents. But then, she had a skill, and the whole family was using it to put food on the table. Who am I to judge them? In the end I smiled at her and gave them some insignificant amount of rupees.
This is the constant pressure of India, the vast and maddening unknowing. What is a person of conscience to do? People are suffering around you on an unimaginable scale, and you buy a shirt and walk on by.
Do you boldly pray on the spot when a 15 year old boy shows you his infected burnt and shriveled arm? Do you give money to lepers but not shoe-shiners? What about a shoe-shining leper? Do you organize a trash pickup when the neighbors will just lay down an even more shockingly destructive layer of wrappers in a week?
Who the heck are you anyway? Some kind of western-born savior coming to snap your fingers over slums, wave your fancy magic wand over heaps of plastic, put your finger on a thousand lips crying for food and make it all dissapear?
Maybe you are. Or maybe you should try to be more humble. Maybe you should run out and get a degree, or join an organization that is already doing it. Maybe you should flip your lid and start shouting wild-eyed in the squares about the high cost of plumbing (seen that one). After years coming to India, I still have these questions myself.
The only thing I can do is face the mountain of suffering cascading down and not really know. I dont know, but I care. You keep that part alive. You feed it with small victories, you encourage yourself to care beyond your means. You try things that may be wrong. You ask questions, you try to be patient. Above all, you keep it human sized, bite sized. Love the people in front of you. When in doubt, err on the side of kindness.
In other news, I enjoyed a nearly credible slice of cheesecake this morning, quite an impressive feat for this part of the world. For reference I once ordered a cheeseburger and was served (with some aplomb, as I remember) a large round ball of cheese balanced just so between two pieces of wheat bread. Really in comparison, the cheesecake was more than acceptable.
Monks milled around on the road below as I bit into my almost cheesecake, apparently free enough from their busy schedule of seeking enlightenment to pose in pictures, try on sunglasses, chase crows with a slingshot, and pop into grimy internet joints. What a place to go people watching. People are everything.
That is exactly why I had a wave of gratefulness for facebook just yesterday, which has put me in touch with a lot of people I have known for years and years, but have lost touch with. Yes facebook is somewhat trite and pithy, and granted the format is not conducive to much depth. But I happen to need all my friends now, from all the various unreconciled and misshapen parts of my life as a sojourner. Not using it now would be like a starving man refusing to eat a piece of bread because its a bit thin. Gimme another slice!
I am especially thankful for my family, all the Bragg and Johnson branches that I swing from. I love you more than I let on, even if I’m always off on my own thing. Ahh but you knew that already.
Wow, what a word-a-thon. Stopping now:)
I had fun, how about you?
April 23rd, 2009 at 3:56 pm
You are right..people do think we are nuts for believing in Jesus…just as I wonder how they can believe in their gods. Also, I find it easier to believe in creation than evolution..for me evolution requires much more faith. To others, it is science and unrefuted in their thinking…As a man thinketh–so is he. All we can really do is live what we believe and hope that those who see us receive the message we live.
So many here is the states think those who practice Hinduism and the like have great peace–but in my experience that’s not the case. The Hindus I know are anxious and worried and fretting.
I don’t have all the answers, but this I know–Jesus is Lord. All you must do there in India is lift up Jesus. He said ‘if I be lifted up I will draw all men to myself’. It must be difficult–seeing the hardness there and feeling that there is so little you can do to help those suffering. But you are doing what you can, in the moment. That is all that God asks. You can plant and water–the increase is up to Him.
Never forget the power of prayer…we can always offer up a prayer on behalf of one in need when we are limited in our ability to assist.
BTW–I read Rae’s blog and love it. I feel like I am sharing in your great adventure. Thank you for sharing your world with the rest of us.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:11 pm
You don’t know me, but we met at Erik & Beca’s wedding so long ago.
I keep telling friends that I’m going to pack up my 5 kids and come visit your family in India. I haven’t done it yet, obviously.
I love your photography.
And yes, I did have fun.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Oh, India… sigh. I miss that place. And I miss you and your dear ones.
April 24th, 2009 at 3:15 am
Wow. I enjoyed the stream of consciousness thought process. I connected with this on so many levels. Thinking and Prayin for you guys. Thanks
SB
April 24th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Nice bicep
April 24th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Wow. Very beautifully written. You and Rae have such a gift with the written word.
May I ask if you have ever set up a Paypal account so that your readers can help your family be the hands and feet of Christ? I would love to help.
April 24th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Don’t listen to Steve - we are so NOT praying - praying, what’s that??!
Just kidding, I’m just envious because you’re younger than us and yet have one more kid - how is that fair?
J
In HK we would say - so random-la!
April 24th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Well, ode to sister in law was a bit better, but only due to the content….
It is SO nice to see you are writing again Brother, I missed it. Looking forward to meeting you over there with my family.
April 24th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Hey old friend,
So glad to hear about your life and enjoyed reading Rachel’s blog as well. Praying for a good run at keeping in touch
April 26th, 2009 at 4:35 am
Hey Bud!
Thanks for the good read! You guys are in my prayers and thoughts constantly. Let’s skype it up sometime soon! I’m seriously planning to see you guys this August. I know its not the ideal season, but its the only time I’ll have to do it all year! I like facebook too. As thin as it is, it has been a massive source of comfort for me as well. I love you lots bro.
Derek
April 28th, 2009 at 2:38 am
well worth reading past the photo. miss you, friend.
May 3rd, 2009 at 2:51 am
I’m in stitches! The cheese burger story gets me every time… I’m so thankful you are posting again, you and rae keep India alive to me through your words and pictures. I often laugh and cry when i read a post. We deeply love and miss you all!!!
July 13th, 2010 at 2:00 am
i just leave munching and eating cheesecakes, they are tasty and yummy,,.