Reflections

"Reality is usually odd. It is not neat, not obvious, not what you expect".

CS LEWIS

Hear the word Africa and it congers certain thoughts. You may drift to the Serengeti and the gorillas, the vast plains of buffalo, and elephant; perhaps the odd giraffe or lion. Before long however you come to the people, the life blood of the Africas. At this point you may think of their new found freedom, or the struggle of Mandela, almost without exception though you come to the pain, suffering, povery, and death. Kenya has an average age of 45 years, in Africa HIV kills 6,500 people a day and the root cause of 1.2 million new orphans - with these figures you can not help but think this place is a living hell.
What I was to experience however was far from it. Spending a little under 1 month in the slums of Nairobi I realised my life has only ever been half full. In the slums I found friendships with a people so full of life that every moment was filled with the gaggles of happiness and giving from heart. It was at this that I realised that life could be so much more.
I suspect that most of us (Australians) realise this too. I suspect that each party pill sold in this new booming epidemic is not because of mere stupidity. Instead these individuals know deep down that there must be more. They desire, they yearn for something else. I cannot begin to explain how we got ourselves into this mess but what I can now see is the insight our 'Clubbers' have had for a while. Life in the West is missing something.

I guess the question is why are we, as such smart people, continuing to run from the answers? Perhaps some of us haven't the clarity on the question - I didn't. But perhaps we are searching the wrong place for the answers. Take a look into the lives of those at Falls, the clubs, and other festivals and ask yourself 'is this the way?'.
Coming back from the poorest continent in the world I realise as an Australian in 2007 I have more luxuries than almost anyone who has walked before me - in all of time. But we as Aussies have a void. Our logic tries to hide it from us. Subtely nawing at you 'You have health, friends, and cool stuff to make you complete, you have all you need. Look inside far enough though and you will find a void that cannot be filled with the new IPOD, or latest Diesal product. I guarantee it!

Going to Africa I experienced a reality I did not expect, it was odd, it was not neat, but it made me look at look inside myself in a very simliar way as a rich young ruler over 2000 years ago when he asked the question
" What does thou lackest?"
It is my prayer that each and every Australian is ready for the answer.