One of those jolting “reality” moments

Journal Entry – Haiti Trip #31 – Thursday April 13, 2023

After 31 trips now, “Haiti firsts” have become less and less frequent – but every once in a while there are still moments that I experience something here for the very first time – and it usually comes with a shocking dose of reality.

Today we were teaching in the village of Grand Bassin, and about half way through our teaching time we passed out bottles of water to the people who had come out to listen to us.  Someone asked if we could pause our presentation for a moment in order to pray for the water.  The prayer that was offered up was beautiful and humbling in its elegant simplicity – first, there was a prayer of thanksgiving for this bottle of water they had been blessed with; and then, a prayer for the safety of the water, that it would be pure enough to not make them sick.

It was one of those jolting reality moments that once again completely rocked my perspective.  I thought to myself, “When was the last the last time I stopped whatever I was in the middle of to give thanks for a drink of water, and recognize and acknowledge that it was God who had provided it?  And when was the last time I had to worry about the safety of the water I was drinking, and pray that it wouldn’t make me sick?”

I’m sure you know the answer to those questions.  It’s probably the same as your answers:  Never.

So, so many things we that all of us take for granted in the U.S. that are simply not “givens” in a place like Haiti. The realities of everyday survival here are brutal, desperate, and harsh – and yet the people have such a level of spiritual attunement and dependance that far surpasses mine.

As I sit here tonight trying to wind my brain down, I’m reminded of Jesus’ words:  “Whoever shall give one of the least of these a cup of cold water in my name…”