the scars to prove it

Once, there lived a young man who walked around with his beautiful, perfect heart on display for everyone to see. He showed it off, pointing out its flawlessness. All who met him marveled at the sight until one day he came across a certain old man. This old man also carried his heart where others might see it but his was not new-looking or perfect. It had pieces missing, gaps where ill-fitting pieces had been jammed, stitching, and deep fissures. When he saw this, the young man asked,

"Old man, why would you show off a heart like that one? Look at mine, how perfect and smooth it is." The old man smiled. Slowly, he lifted his heart and began to explain, gesturing with one bony finger,

"Each missing piece, each fissure is where I gave a part to someone else. Sometimes I received pieces in return. Some of those pieces fit and some didn't -- but I kept them anyway. Sometimes I gave pieces away but never got anything in return."

The young man looked down at the smooth sides of his heart, its flawlessness, its constant shape. Tears welled in his eyes. He was overcome with helplessness. Understanding immediately, the old man tore away a generous piece of his heart and offered it to the young man. The young man hesitated but then clumsily tore away a bit of his own heart, making room to fit the offering.

"That's a start," commented the old man and the young man walked proudly away, holding his heart high.

~~~~~~~~~~

I am back from Haiti (for now). I certainly have the scars to prove that I gave it my all: heart, body and soul. My legs are mangled from necessary motorcycle travel, my waist marred by massive jellyfish stings and my heart a bit broken. The leaving was bittersweet -- sad to leave behind the Espwa kids, good friends and meaningful work but ready to start a new chapter of my life. No doubt, I'll be back to visit soon and my work as a volunteer with Espwa will continue on a part-time basis from the States.

Please do keep up with my blog. I will still report on Pwoje Espwa and other events in Haiti on a sporadic but regular basis but the focus will shift to reflect, in photos and words, the goings on of wherever it is I happen to be located.