On my way home to Lesotho,from a recent trip to America, I had a ten hour layover in London. A layover I dreamt about and planned for. Ten hours in the land of double decker buses, Kate Middleton and everything sophisticated. I willed myself to sleep on the plane in preparation for the lovely London day I had in mind.
Ten minutes after disembarking I stood holding a soggy phone fished out of the airport toilet. As my phone over heated in my hand, (apparently you’re not supposed to try and turn it on) I approached customs in shock, this was my lifeline. While I contemplated sitting in the terminal stewing over my misfortune for the next nine hours and fifty minutes, I remembered the resiliency I’ve learned in Lesotho, so, chin up.
I made my way to a kiosk selling cell-phones in brands and makes I had never seen before. In far too much detail, I explained my predicament to the unimpressed salesperson, and was directed to a phone that was the best value. Not even bothering with the exchange rate I purchased my new phone, and as I fished out my wallet, the ever helpful shopkeeper made sure to inform me I had of course over paid on the train ticket I now held in my hand. Chin up.
Walking away from the kiosk phone in hand, overpriced ticket safely tucked in my now lighter wallet, I took a deep breath. Surely the worst was behind me. (Ha) While following the signs to the underground train I quickly attempted to connect my smartphone to the WiFi, no luck, my luck. Chin Up. Then as if on cue the zipper on my singular bag gave way spilling all my belongings onto the floor of the tube platform. Chin. Up.
Clutching my belongings to my chest as I rode the tube into London proper I couldn’t help but replay the day’s events and how London seemed to be beating me up. (I would find soon enough that the bad luck had not run out.) I thought of each opportunity I had been given to turn around find a chair and sit and sulk. As I watched the blur of landscape out the window I wondered why I wasn’t wallowing, why I wasn’t grieving the day’s failures.
In Lesotho, nothing seems to go as planned. I can wake up and have five things on my to-do list, and due not to a lack of effort, accomplish nothing. Electronics have broken, electricity and internet have failed, buckets have fallen, I have fallen, rain has poured, people have laughed, I have cried and still life moves on. Daily, hourly, I have to reframe, rethink, breathe in, breathe out and gain perspective. We love efficiency, convenience, smooth sailing, good days, but that’s not always what we are given.
When recounting my days struggles to a friend her response was, “I’m grateful you didn’t get sick or lose your passport.” Another, who had been praying for my travels that day made sure to point out “well, you were safe, I prayed for safety.” It’s all in perspective. Yes, I haven’t had electricity and the clouds have hindered me from charging via solar, but I’ve got water, and a roof… perspective. Sure, I just fell in a river, but there is enough water in the river to wash my blankets… perspective. A question I often ask myself is “is it a bad day, or simply a bad five minutes that your blowing out of proportion?” Often that’s all it takes, just a bit of perspective.
London was a bad five minutes, followed by a bad ten, followed by a bad few hours. Yes, London beat me down, but chin up, look around- London is lovely, look at those double decker busses! Yes, Lesotho sometimes mocks me, but chin up, look around- those mountains are breathtaking. Chin up, its all in perspective.
Blessings on those hard days, on those hard five minutes, when perspective is hard to find. Friends, tomorrow is another day, chin up!
Salang Hantle,
Bren
Brenda Kay Hafer 