I watched a distressing short documentary about the underworld in Bucuresti. The aurolaci. I grew up knowing of them and being afraid to cross their paths. Drug addicts who live in the sewers. Yesterday I stood still and did not turn my eyes away; to understand, to ache for their loss of hope and humanity. During communism the number of abandoned children grew exponentially compared to any other era. It became acceptable in our society to have orphanages. But the system fell apart along with the communism, due to the scale and the weight of it, the lack of support and real checks and balances, other that one’s own morals. World Vision intervened and over the last 20 years has rescued 20000 lives, and there are a lot of other smaller organizations that make a difference. The challenge is dealing with the stark contracts between a thriving society, with bright young students who win gold medals in math and science olympics, and the decay of society due to ignorance. I watched a dramatized Bucuresti, and yet pretty realistically presented, in “the unnecessary death of charlie countryman”. It made me even more determined to get off my butt and make a difference.
I used to think that Belief is a powerful strength. But love is so much more impactful. I work with the elite every day, and I have done so for the last many years. I did not receive any special treatment growing up, except for my parents love and protection and the transparent example of their character. And I ask myself everyday, since we made the decision to go spend a few year in Romania, am I really giving this up for that?
Right now life is easy, successful and fulfilling. Too much wealth along with numbness. But the fact that it doesn’t hit us in the face, with the ugliness and smell, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
I am not saying that we should all leave what we are doing and go out and save the world, but I have been invested in, in ways I did not expect, and now I feel compelled to go out and do more. More than inspire and develop a team of 30 or 40. This has its own value, but I brought it to its own place of self-sufficiency. Its hard to leave it behind when it’s so easy. I learned the ropes. I earned the respect, I have a paved path ahead of me. But I can’t escape my own determination to go where no path has been made a leave a trail.