Everything that is built, everything that is on a timeline, everything that has a “before” has a foundation. Even a simple hut for shelter is placed on a cleared ground. There is preparation, there is a “before”. In the case of very large buildings the strength of the foundation is incredibly important. There is planning, design, materials, engineers, cooperation, measurements…on and on and on…in order to set the right conditions to create a structure that is sturdy enough to withstand multitudes of people using the structure for living and work.
How often do we use the illustration of the skyscraper foundation as the blueprint for our lives? How often do we think we need the exact right circumstances, materials, drawings, friends, planning schooling, location and partners to lift to the sky? How often to we subscribe to the notion that A MUST happen before we can be happy with a planned B? How often does our planned B turn into …well, maybe X,Y and/or Z will be better?
In South Sudan a war has caused such devastation that over a third of the population is reliant on UN food. Yet, what is completely striking is that a photo posted in the story on NPR the children are “playing” in the line to receive food. Playing. Playing in the midst of dry barren land, playing in the midst of hunger, playing in the midst of needing to hike over a mile for good drinking water and playing in the midst of adults bent with the greed of the oil beneath the soil that they are unwilling or unable to stop armed conflicts and civil strife.
Despite the situation the children are playing. Despite the outward situation there is an energy for joy, laughter, mobility, and friendship that as of now has not been totally squashed in such a horrendous situation.
THIS — this unrelenting human spirit, this ability to share and play in the midst of hunger and drought — THIS is the foundation of EVERYTHING. THIS is what we take with us when we go back HOME. THIS is what we are here to learn. We are here to understand how love may flourish in the most unforgiving and the most horrendous of circumstances. These children are the light, that if one chooses to see the light, will shine the way for the compassion, light and laughter in others.
In the case of the South Sudanese, the government’s wish for the foundation of autonomy and oil rights did not (at least yet) lead to a better physical life for its people. The foundation of children at play … The foundation of people banding together for water, the service for the people from Doctors without Borders, the UN relief workers … THIS is the true foundation of life. It certainly does not look like the shiny skyscraper. The moment by moment achievements in compassion, and play will not reach the record books of human achievement, but every act of light in such physical frustration allows for the light of the whole. Each and every time someone sends love through healing and prayers to this situation, decides on how to contribute energetically, monetarily, or in person the foundation of the Spirit of Humanity thrives. Each and every time a hand is held, a tear wiped and a child laughs the Spirit of Humanity thrives.
There are so many causes, situations and ways in which we all can make little differences in this world. We all have the capacity to be drawn into a story, situation, cause, movement. We all have the capacity to be even the tiniest part of a compassion, love, energetic or even physical foundation for another or others. We all have the capacity to “play” in the most barren of physical circumstances. Allowing for this is the greatest achievement we as humans have the ability to accomplish.