Last week my friend Kristin told me that she wanted to show Invisible Children again at the Armory this Sunday. Originally she thought to do it at night but b/c of scheduling we had to move it to tomorrow afternoon. Unfortunately Kristin has to work then so I volunteered to be there to run it. We put the word to AmeriCorps in the area and I put a listing on Craigslist, so hopefully we can have a turnout.
I was laying on my bed earlier trying to wrap my mind around the stories of these children from Uganda. I found I couldn't focus on the subject for very long. Not that I was particuarly distracted or anything but it is a very sad, rough situation. Maybe our brains can't wrap around it. Images help, first-hand accounts help, but the reality is something that deep inside we purposely block for one reason or another. I know after Katrina (et. al) so many of us--myself included--became overwhelmed by the constant barage of depressing images. They're ingrained in our minds, they caused us to react, and we were also able to turn the channel to get away from them. I'll be the first to say loudly that I have and do lead a directly sheltered life. And this is a benefit (?) to the life we lead I guess. Just like right now as I sit here in my bedroom typing on a computer watching 'Saturday Night Live' and eating tortilla chips. But even as I do this, the children are in my thoughts.
Earlier I looked around my bedroom to tried and think about how many people I could fit in my here to sleep. Half a dozen, without furniture we could double that number. That would come with a windows and a roof, some heat/air, a hardwood floor and a rug--maybe even some pillows and blankets. Such luxuries!
I don't know what to pray for or where to direct my thoughts when I'm thinking about people who are living in war zones like Uganda or Iraq. But tonight my thoughts went to the things that lighten my spirits: the power of laughter, of smiling and admiring the endless sky, a smooth breeze, or thoughts of my family. These things are so much more powerful than a movie or a book, even if we occasionally rely on those objects to engender some of these feelings. So with no other answers right now, I guess that's how I can wrap my mind around these stories. By accepting that they are humans just as I, I can focus on what we share, and pray that in the midst of war & pain & oppression they are able to share in these joys of life, in their own individual ways.  ¶ 4/08/2006 11:38:00 PM