We stand tall more by the structure around us than we realize.
As an American I consider myself to be quite sophisticated, educated, capable, and able to achieve almost anything.
But bring me to Zambia and drop me in the bush where there is no law, no security, no electricity, no running water, no books, no internet, no tiled floors and glass mirrors, and I’m suddenly reduced to an insecure, cold, small, nearly helpless thing. Unable to accomplish hardly anything because I know little of the persistence of hard work. Of daily carrying water on my head for my family, of dealing with deadly snakes and elephants, and crocodiles and hippos.
I don’t know how to make a house or protect my things from ants and rats.
I don’t know how to survive with no rains, with no money, with no job,
with a husband who beats me, who cheats on me, and tells me to cook for him when he’s drunk.
I don’t know how.
I don’t want to ever have to know how.
So continue dear Americans, to make cars, and uphold justice, to tile floors and have good manners.
Keep working hard in our easy world so that you will not be reduced to having nothing, and again find what it means to suffer and starve and work hard with every ounce of your body just to survive.
Keep loving your wives when it’s hard, and choosing not to have that next drink.
Choose purity, and integrity, and honor.
Choose it because our society depends on it, and your and my children will depend on what society we create.
If you’re lazy, go to Africa and repent with gratefulness and tears, and upon returning, throw your heart into your work, as you pray for them to live.
(and who knows, maybe we can even do something together so they can!)
