Thursday, December 8, 2011

“Tongo le Dio A Borondongo…”


The title comes from an old rhythmic tune from way back in Cuba… It tells about how one action will start a number of reactions down the line…

Of course, the song takes the funny slant, how one hits another and the other does the same to someone else, etc… Sort of like falling dominoes, until the last one in line ends up kicking the dog at the end. Just because it’s the dog and it happens to be there at the wrong time… and because it will continue to wag its tail no matter what.

Actions and reactions; a lifetime of uninterrupted motion which sometimes goes forward … sometimes backwards and at other times it moves sideways while seeming to be motionless. Suddenly we look up and we realize that it has been some six plus decades that one has been facing whatever this life wants to hand out, whether gently or a bit more roughly, as it is wont to do. There are moments when one feels slightly like that old dog, receiving a hard hit (at times physically and at other times emotionally) and wagging on. Then, there are other times when the world is at your feet, ready for your bidding.

Last night was a beautiful night. By the time I finally finished and came home at around 9pm, the winds had blown the all day cloud cover to kingdom come; when I stepped out of the car and tilted my face up, lo and behold … the firmament was there to be looked at in awe; an almost full moon, incredibly shiny, with all the attending stars in tow… a gorgeous array of light points, trailing through the skies like a gigantic candle collection of many sizes, all flickering brightly. For a moment, it was enough to allow one to forget many issues, including tiredness of body and spirit.

When it is said that the best moments in life are free … this was certainly a wonderful example of one of them!!

This morning, in my first class, there were a couple of young students in attendance and I happened to mention last night’s skies… the reaction of one, echoed by the other, was “I don’t have the time to look at the skies…” It was a great opportunity to go into the “Take the time to smell the roses lecture” but I realized this would not mean much to them. All that my mind could muster at the moment was a mild mannered “whatever few precious minutes you manage to give yourself, are priceless in what they can mean to you” and so I said to them. He looked back at me and with a somewhat surprised look on his face, said: “My grandfather used to say that to us all the time … we just never paid too much attention because all we could see was a poor old man, with nothing to show for his life”. 

I looked at him and, remembering there were other people in class and that this was not a private conversation, refrained from any further detailed comments but, a bit later managed to steer the class towards a light discussion of what an achievement is. It was interesting to listen to these young people give their own version of achievement; usually centered on money and the things this could buy. Most, if not all, come from humble backgrounds, and all are desperately trying to eke out a better living than what they had available in their own country. Finally, a young mother said: “my biggest achievement is my baby daughter” and the discussion began to veer towards the non-metallic side of the ledger.

By the end of the discussion, in their somewhat halting English (after all, it is an English class…) they came to an overall agreement (including one, somewhat grudgingly, from the young man with the original comment) that in reality, money is a tool, albeit a much needed tool, but its worth is its usefulness to obtain those services for which we have to pay. On the other hand, they also agreed that those moments in life which bring warmth of heart, love, affection, peace of mind and inner happiness, do not really have buying price … as the card commercial aptly says: “They are priceless”.

Sometimes I wonder whether my being in these classes as “The Teacher” is due to being in the right place at the right time… For all of us … Many of these folk who come through these courses are not rich in economic terms but they are rich in culture and friendship, and all share an intense desire to improve their lot; to learn all they can, and to adapt to a new world while working their tails off. We talk about our country, the changes it has undergone over the years and the people who inhabit it. Among the topics discussed are demographics, politics, opportunity and ways to improve the future of their lives and, especially, that of their children (Those who have them). I have met kids of 20 – 22 years of age who live alone and work 18 hours a day so they can send some money back home, going to bed at 2am and getting up at 6 so they can be in class by 8. I have met adults who work two jobs while raising a family and look at these classes and the work involved as another job to tackle.

They come to learn English and, in return, they teach me about never giving up. I am reminded daily that “where there is a will, there is a way” and also of the fact that there are no impossibilities, just some challenges which are a little more difficult than others. In these classes we laugh, sometimes we yell and poke fun at each other; my daily goal is that they know a few more words when they leave than they knew when they came into the classroom. There is pride in this achievement for each one, and often they will report back as to how they can now “communicate” better with their coworkers or neighbors.

We all have something to learn … I am happy to share my experiences with them and they share their lot with me. The offshoot is that we can all learn from each other; there are no titles or positions in life, just the person who occupies them at any given time and often for a few, fleeting moments. Open the eyes of your heart and mind, for these are the ones that will truly make you less blind; the eyes on our faces just show what appears to be … the inner eyes allow us to see what is.

Be Well … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:
  • Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
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