The symbol on the flag here in Uganda is that of a Crested Crane. I'm not really into birds or animals or nature really, but this bird is possibly the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. Every time I see them I am astounded at God's creativity and eye for detail. When I see them fly overhead, they are graceful and elegant. Their call is a wild, lonely sort of cry. They remind me of peace and tranquillity, whether in flight or at rest.
On the other hand, the Marabou stork, which frequents piles of rubbish that collect on the sides of the road, or that double as roundabouts, is possibly the ugliest I have ever seen. So much so, that every time I see one I cringe and shudder involuntarily. Their beaks clack (and to me, give meaning to that word), their necks droop with loose skin and they seem to find it difficult to move their ungainly body. I'm not sure what God was thinking with them to be honest, maybe to someone else they are beautiful, or maybe the beauty of the Crested Crane is heightened by the ugliness of the Stork, or maybe the beauty of the Crane reveals the comparative ugliness of the Stork. Well for whatever reason, they are both here co existing, the Crane in the open fields and the Stork in rubbish.
Every time I see one of the Cranes I think of the ugliness of the Stork and I was thinking this week that these birds sum up much of the beauty and ugliness I see in Uganda.
Uganda itself is an extremely beautiful country. Of course I have only seen a relatively small portion of it, the bit that does receive the most rainfall, but there is a reason it has been called in the past 'the pearl of Africa'. Added to that, the people here are so friendly. And not just because I am a muzungu. I see the way that people care for each other, for their families, and the way that they extend their hospitality to friends and strangers alike. They display a dignity that belies the poverty of many. They are a beautiful people, like the Crane, full of grace and, purely from my own observation, a generally happy people.
On the other hand, I cannot comprehend the depths (or heights) of corruption here. It is ugly. It is a stain, a bleeding, gaping wound that seems to continue to bleed out no matter the treatment given. From the lowest to the highest in Ugandan society, corruption is a controlling influence. Then there is poverty, which distorts and destroys. It is soul sucking. The very fact that some can remain standing with dignity is a testament to their character, but for others it crushes them, sucks them dry, so that they have no capacity to care, no room for hope, no ability to see beyond the day they are currently living in. And then there is disease. Which probably goes hand in hand with poverty, but doesn't discriminate between rich and poor. While HIV/AIDS could be said to be the highest profile disease, it is certainly not the biggest killer. Malaria is a lot easier to get and claims the most victims. These things are ugly.
How can these contradictions exist side by side? I guess in the same way the Cranes and the Storks do, one in the fields, one in the rubbish. It makes me thankful that such beauty exists and hopeful that with enough time, willpower and action the rubbish can be removed.
HOPE is here to deal with the rubbish while celebrating the beauty. Every person we help has the potential to be a Crested Crane, flying high about the rubbish dumps of life, far removed from their stench, free. You also have the ability to live as a Crested Crane. Your rubbish dumps may not be corruption, poverty and disease but I bet they're there. Choose to be a Crested Crane. Live with grace, showing compassion, kindness and mercy toward others. Live with dignity, dignify others. Live a life of beauty, a thing that shines for others to see that there is hope to be found in what can seem like a cruel world.
Blessings
bron
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