Monday, November 4, 2013



We found this man in Haiti after walking up a mountain and into the middle of nowhere.  He did not hear or see us when we approached.  He had lost most of his hearing and his sight.  His bed was old rags.  He wore a womens' torn and tattered sweater in the Haiti heat.  He had a dirty bucket of water and little food.  We emptied our pockets and backpacks.  One of the Haitian guides gave him $5? .  It is the only time our Haitian guides, bike drivers and friends did not speak at all as we left the visit and walked back down the mountain.   It is the one time I cried on the trip.

None of us knew what to say or how to process what we had seen.

I still do not have any words.

He ended up there and I ended  up here and I do not know why or how that has happened but I do know that if I pretend it did not that God would be deeply disappointed in me.

.
So I share his photo with you.  That is what we do on Face Book.  We share photos of those with whom we have connected.  I do not know if this man's photo has been shared with anyone.  I am pretty sure it has not been shared on Face Book.

The irony and the inequity of it all still leaves me speechless.


As we walk through our days arguing over how much more we feel we should have in our country, it seems important to remember this man.   He represents many on this planet that we share.

Or should I say this planet on which we do NOT share.











3 comments:

Glenys Nellist said...

Cheryl...such a moving post. You are so right...none of us can choose where we are born in this world. But when we are born into affluence, the very least we can do is to raise awareness of those who are not. Thank you for doing that.

cjb said...

You are the one person who responds, Glenys, and I so appreciate that....it is the dialogue that keeps me growing.....thank you....bless you!

cjb said...
This comment has been removed by the author.