Bittersweet

(I wrote this blog last week but didn’t have a chance to post it , so if the time line seems off that’s why) 🙁 )My first two weeks in Nica have been wonderful; but also bittersweet. The finate number of days we all have on this earth is much more evident here and seems to be a lesson God is really trying to instill in me recently.

The Sunday church sermon was on how life is short focusing on Job 4:1-2 “ Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.” Its a lesson I of course had heard before, we all have at some point. And it is one that has inspired countless books and movies, and brought about maxims like Carpe Diem and be it good or bad YOLO; but here in Nicaragua the lesson strikes a deeper cord and resonates louder.

Most mornings here I quickly enjoy a breakfast of lovely fresh pineapple and coffee(amoungst other things) and then head straight to the free clinic within my complex. And everyday I fill the same perscription– B-complex, Iron, Multi-Vitamin etc. I count out the pills dropping them into a clear plastic bag, and I call out the man’s name handing him his prescription with a heavy heart “Para usted” for you sir. There are 57 men who come to the clinic once a month to get this medinces, all afflicted by the same horribly preventable diease. The same disease that has killed 1/3 of the fathers in in Bethel, a village of 153 families we frequently serve, and currently inflicts another third. Nearly every child we play with and encourage, nearly every young person we hold bible studies with or interact with otherwise is touched by this diease in same way. Perhaps having lost a father, uncle, brother, or cousin. Here things are more black and white with post high school plans: you peform well enough to get into the university so you can have a skilled job, or you go to the fields and work. Black and white. All the men who go to the fields to work aquire an incurable kidney diease caused by the harsh chemicals used– pesticides, fertlizers etc. , combined with long days with intense heat and few breaks. Black and white. Once a crop has been cut the fields are often burned which can cause the workers to break out in rashes as they set the fires, and give them respiratory problems from breathing in the fumes.

It is well known by all here that working in the fields in triming days, and years off of peoples lives but there is no other work. So even once a man shows signs of the diease he will continue to work in the fields to support himself and his family until they no longer can. Eventually, the diease takes them and oftentimes their wives are forced to work in the fields to now soley support her family, ultimately electing the same fate as her departed spouse. The saddest part of it is the injustice. It is known that the chemicals used are the cause of the diease, but few are aware of this issue and those who are don’t care or can’t change the conditions. The ways things are being done is efficient– it comes down to money– which is a sick excuse for the atrosity that is being commited here. (I could really go on and on, but I’ll have to save that injustice for another blog).

Monday, the day after the church lesson on the fleeting nature of life, and how our days are truly numbered a man came into the clinic only to learn just how numbered his really are. He was told that he had 4-5 months left to live. His years of hard work had caught up to him. He broke down, tears flowing, and his body shoke slowly, the truth rippling through his chest. He had kids, he had young grandchildren all of which he would soon have to leave.

As if the message hadn’t been made clear enough, through the church sermon and the heart breaking physical example(s)– I found out on Tuesday that a close family friend of mine, Barbara, had passed away a few days prior. Barbara was a very close friend to my Grandmother and even after my Grandmother passed away when I was little, Barbara remained an important part of my family and had a special relationship with my Mom. She was a vibrant women, who lived a good long life and who will be missed.

The message was made loud and clear to me over those four days, I appreciate God’s redundacy on the important things—LIFE IS SHORT. We are not promised tomorrow, we are not promised 10 minutes from now. I don’t share this to loom a dark cloud but rather to remind myself and maybe you too to embrace today, embrace life, embrace those around you. Right now– like really– log off your computer right now and tell someone you love them, or make amends in a broken relationship, forgive – because you don’t know if you will be able to later, don’t wait. Today, and each day is a gift from God to be cherished. We all spend our lives doing something, make yours count, don’t be afraid to change, to ask for help, to forgive, to show love. Life is too short to wait to do the things that matter most. Our days are numbered, lets make them count.