I just read about the 91,000 classified military documents spilled by WikiLeaks. Interesting. Clift Notes version: The American military spent countless billions of dollars to do all kinds of stuff—much of it quite good—in an effort to win over the Afghan people, but in the end, there’s little positive to show for it.
Hmmm.
When I was in North Africa researching my book Harvest of Hope, I visited an ancient Berber village to see their new modern well. A representative of the European organization that headed up the project spoke of the many, many months it took to get the villagers onboard. Workers visited each family—sitting with them, meeting everyone from the grandpa to the baby, talking about the crops and hopes for the children’s future. The workers brought toothbrushes and toothpaste and taught the children to brush their teeth, Something they could do with abandon once they had plenty of water.
After I admired the new well, and each feature was demonstrated to me by the swarm of children who followed us everywhere, the village headman invited us to his house for hot mint tea.
Upstairs, in a room protected from the burning sun by walls of painted tile and filled with inviting overstuffed cushions, the headman pointed out the window to a cloudless azure sky. The rolling green hills below were dotted with acres and acres of trees in bloom. I asked what they were.
“Almonds,” the headman told me. “Eight thousand almond trees, a gift from an international government organization.”
“Wow,” I said. “Now, that was a valuable gift!”
The trees were wonderful, the headman agreed. The village earned much from selling almonds. But, he said, the government workers simply arrived, planted the trees, then left within days. Packed up and moved on to the next project. Not like the well-workers.
“The government people never came to my house for tea,” he said. “They did much very fast, but they never asked about our neighbors or our animals. They never knew my children’s names. They didn’t even know my name. We like the almond trees but we love the well. The people who gave it to our village know us.”
My point here, in this time of two wars: Is is possible for us to develop bonds of relationship? If not, can we ever hope to change hearts?
Are we not like two volumes of one book?
Marceline Desbordes-Valmore
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Another lovely post and perfectly timed. I start school next Thursday and I’ve been writing my intention statement. It says in part, Open minds require open hearts. My students need a heart to heart connection with each other and with a caring adult, that would be me. It’s my job to create that and it comes before any ‘learning’ can take place.
You sound like an excellent teacher. I’m praying for a very special year for you and for them.
I don’t know if I am or not. I want to be though. I want to touch lives and have children see themselves differently. I want them to see that their lives are full of possibilities, not the limited by color or poverty. I want to give wings to their dreams. I want that more passionately now then I did when I was in my twenties. Go figure. The best part of teaching is getting to read aloud a really good book. It’s a very selfish thing I do, taking them on an imaginary journey with me. I can’t thank you enough for writing good books for my students. It makes a difference in their lives you can’t imagine.
As an ex-teacher, I know exactly what you mean. Is there one of us who can’t look back and point to a teacher who touched–even changed–our life? I sure can! Bless you.
Your story shows that human being need to be just that humane and being…simply put but with much to say we all need love and no matter what language one speak … love can be felt, and gives vibrations of gratefulness and a warmth of being appreciated and looked after . The well people had a mission to give life not just through available water..but through communication and both are so valuable for life.
It’s easy to forget that, especially when there are agendas involved.
Feed the heart before anything else.
Amen!
I think I’ve recommended Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools on other threads here on VN, but it doesn’t hurt to say again that there are answers in these books. Some of our generals are making them required reading after their wives forced them to read the books themselves. The author is Greg Mortenson and they are readable, enjoyable, and could change our whole approach.
In wonderful language and through stunning example, Greg Mortenson lives and exactly what I’m saying here.