Ignorance Doesn't Change the World

Wasn’t it easier in the lunchbox days?

Always a bigger bed to crawl into?

Wasn’t it beautiful when you believed in everything?

Everybody believed in you?

‘Innocent’ – Taylor Swift

Sometimes,

I wish that I could go

Back to the days

When

My biggest decision

Was who to invite to my birthday party

Or which OPI Nail Lacquer to buy

And

My biggest prayer request

Was that I would 

“Do well” in my exam or presentation.

When

My biggest problem

Was an unfair teacher

Or conflicting social events.

When

My biggest worry

Was that I wouldn’t get a date to the prom

Or be accepted to a good college

And

My biggest spiritual hurdle

Was how to “Be a witness”

To my friends who

(gasp)

swore.

The days

When

I could buy a product without

Wondering

About the the people who made it

(fair trade)

(sweat shops)

(chemical exposure)

(child labour)

(conflict minerals)

And therefore become

Conflicted

Myself.

The days

When

Having a crush on a boy

Meant I never had to

Actually

Talk to him.

The days

Before I started thinking critically.

The days

Before I left my “bubble.”

The days
Before I learned
That believing in God
Can be hard sometimes.
Before I wondered
What Jesus really meant
When He said,
"Follow Me."

The days

Before I watched the news.

Before I interacted with the oppressed.

Before I saw people’s spiritual wounds.

Before I experienced a world of unnecessary suffering.

Before I knew heartbreak.

Before I recognized my privilege.

Before I asked questions.

Things were easier in the lunchbox days.

These days are hard,

And sometimes they hurt.

But I believe they are worth it.

I guess it's true what they say,

That

Ignorance is bliss.

But ignorance doesn’t

Change the world.


And it won't change me, either.

On the Flip Side

After I wrote about all the “hardships” of adventuring in the jungle, I started reflecting on the true harsh realities of this place where I live…

• · Saturday, I bought an outfit for $22. Not bad for some authentic Indian apparel, huh? But I just did the math, and the reality is that, to the Indian consumer, that outfit cost the equivalent of $137.50. Were I an Indian, living in a country where the majority live on $1-2/day, I never would have been able to buy that very same outfit.
• · The other day, the girls caught a glimpse of my permanent retainer and asked me what it was for…as I looked back at their crooked grins I felt so foolish telling them that the piece of metal that costs more than they will ever make in a year is to keep my teeth from moving apart [even though I am oh-so-thankful for it…contextually it seems so superfluous].
• · These girls wake up at 5am. They do chores, study, do yoga, serve breakfast, and go to school. They come home, go to English class, go to computer class, study, serve dinner, and go to bed. But they never ever let me go behind them in the supper line.
• · And…one [or more] of them is fighting AIDS. But it is a secret, because if the others find out she will be shunned.

Yes, we have plenty to be thankful for. And plenty to think about…because with great privilege comes great responsibility [borrowed and morphed that quote from Spiderman; thank you Uncle Ben]. More about that later, I’m sure.