Journey with Della

“Thank God for coronavirus” I heard myself whisper on my morning walk today. As a Christian, my Bible teaches me to have a grateful attitude in life but this was not just a give-thanks-in-everything situation. I was comparing two things – the streets of Yaounde this morning when the safety measures have been lifted and these same streets a few weeks ago when they were in full force.

Today, like on every other day since the measures were lifted, the streets were crowded around bars with young men and women, and I dare add boys and girls, who were clearly intoxicated and/or under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. They stood there in small groups talking in loud obnoxious tones, some holding beer bottles in their hands and others up in each other’s faces. And still others singing and dancing to the loud booms of the music still oozing out of the buildings that had accommodated them all night.

I longed for the curfew days first of all because I missed the peace and quiet on the streets during my early morning walks/jogs/runs but also for their sake, I reasoned. They would be safer and not indulge in risky behavior if these bars were not allowed to run. Or would they?

Just then another thought crossed my mind. If these beautiful, full grown men and women could not restrain themselves from behavior that is clearly dangerous to them now, what gave me the audacity to think that they would do that otherwise?

One thing is certain – I care about these people deeply. If I had my way, I would help them make better choices. Something in me ached for them. What pushed them into such risky behavior? How many of them are doing this to escape haunting memories from their backgrounds that, other wise, would keep them awake at night? For how many of them is it actually better to have a place of escape albeit at high risk? How many have suffered loses related to the same pandemic because of which those measures were imposed in the first place? I knew better than to judge them based on their choices but do I have the right to make assumptions about them?

Assumptions are dangerous for many reasons as I explained in this post but under these circumstances, there is one that I must make. One that I choose to cling to until proven wrong. It is this:

Each one of these amazing ladies and gentlemen has the capacity to be and do better if only they get a chance. Surrounded with the right people who love, accept and believe in them, they can each turn their lives around and lead others of their peers to do the same.

I cling to this assumption each blessed day that I wake up under the sun because therein lies the reason why I do what I do. Life has dealt us each our share of experiences. Some good. Some not so good. Others terrible but ours nonetheless.

I look back at my life and am thankful for the help I have received in working through my messes and that keeps me humble. Without help, I could be one of those people in those crowded bars this morning.

If you are one of those who has not had the help you need to turn things around, know that my heart breaks for you. But more than that, I want to come along side you like so many others have me. Who knows? Perhaps we might be able to turn the tide and get you back on the road to better days one step at a time!

In fact, we can do that! I know that. I am as sure of it as I am of the sun in the sky. I have had the privilege to walk that road with so many others already and I know that there are many other lovely men and women like me out there who would give anything to get that chance with you.

Would you give one of us a chance? It starts with just one decision to trust another with yourself. Tough decision, no doubt. But possible.

So yeah, I am thankful for the fact that I can gain this perspective, wrestle with these things, ache for the beautiful men and women of my lovely nation, and find these words to say these things today. In the same breadth, I am also aware of the much pain and suffering that has been added to many lives in every part of the world. My heart breaks for each one and if it were in my power, I would undo them all. But alas, it is not.

The pandemic has served and continues to serve a purpose even if none of us can make sense of any of it. One thing is certain, in the fullness of time, it too shall pass like the so many others that have come before. But in the meantime, thank God for coronavirus.