Ubuntu

Give

 

 I apologise forehand if I am going to offend

that is not the intention. I hope something

positive will result from this ranting

It is not about me

it is about, what we

have become

*



I do what I do

I get scolded, rebuked and rejected

I do not care what others think

about me and call myself slave

doulos, malamban, boer

"Daddy you are obnoxious,you

embarrassed me."

I hear you darling child, I hear you

please understand. I have to do what I do

maybe I can change my demeanour

maybe I can be less forceful

maybe I can back of

I am sorry I embarrass you

I am not sorry I challenged that person

I am not sorry I insisted on what is right

and was not complacent about what is needed

I see an image of a man being brutally murdered

in full view of onlookers and the whole

barbaric incident was recorded for the world to see

I saw a poor woman being embarrassed

in front of her friends because

she was instantly branded a thief

she wanted a pair of sneakers that was donated

by kind and generous people

it was a gift to her and she was branded

a thief because she laid claim to the gift

I begged to be allowed to give the

displaced a warm cup of tea instead

of a cold container of Oros  juice

in the bitter morning cold

and was shot down three times

without explanation without reason

I asked for one more blanket for

a displaced person, who had to flee

for his life for the second time

and I was rejected bluntly and

told it is too early, we are too busy, we will

attend to it later

and then reprimanded in a raised voice

"the Red Cross gave THEM 500 blankets

last night"

really 500 blankest for 1000 displaced people

sleeping on the ground in tents in the cold while it is raining.

do your math dear important custodian of other's generosity

Then I was told I can leave because "you work against ME"

because I allowed a vehicle in, loaded with fresh bread

and was told, we do not accept bread, without explanation

without being informed beforehand I was chased away

in front of my child who blamed me for being obnoxious

The very next  morning people who really care and are

skilled and equipped went and bought bread because

they did not have enough to give the displaced breakfast

they made warm tea on a small one plate gas stove

I was elated, I was full of joy, there are people

who understand the term Ubuntu

I cut my finger in my food processor preparing food

and was told, "let me put salt on it", by a kind

generous church Auntie and had to wrap my hand

in a dishcloth as I was bleeding all over the place.

Then this kind gentleman mocked me for being a sissy

and pretending that I am injured because I am

too lazy to cook.

I offered my help elsewhere because I Care

my wife and child remained on their posts

in that place of desolation called a Church

Seven years ago it was different. Seven years ago

we could cope. seven years ago we distributed freely

and shared with other charities.

 we prepared warm tea and baby formula

we catered for twice the amount of people

there was harmony, there was no shouting

there was understanding and leadership and caring

I was allowed to enter the premises at 6 AM

to start preparations,to be ready for

The Red Cross volunteers to serve breakfast

To accept prepared sandwiches from schools

and other organisations in time for breakfast

It was just me and the caretaker that time of the morning

we did what had to be done willingly with

light hearts, we sacrificed our time and energy

because we cared,we lived Ubuntu.

The same place was an Oasis of hope

a Beacon of Giving and care

a happy place, a Godly place

a warm place

in the freezing cold

what changed?

two people

that is what

that is all

that changed

I am sorry "K"

that I embarrassed you

I do what I do

I am doulos

Malamban

Boer