cookie monster

Earlier this week I was walking home from work right behind an older gentleman, he must have been over seventy, when I saw him make a swift move to scoop a pack of cookies from a street stand and place them in his coat pocket.  At first I laughed at how sly he was, then I thought about confronting him. Then realized- maybe I should abstain from confronting locals for minor misdemeanors. 

I have been thinking of this man, how completely unsuspected he appeared.  How he would likely take the cookies home to his wife, or give them to his grandchild who would never suspect his grandad was a thief.  I am reminded how ineffective judging solely on appearance can be.  How often do we try to hide behind our stereotyped facades to make sure our wrongdoings are carefully hidden... But I am a pastor, I am a successful businessman, I am a straight A student, I volunteer, etc.  Case after case and life experience after life experience, have shown me time and again that the most beautiful and seemingly great people can be living with ugly hidden double lives.

I am currently working on translating a study guide, in which the idea that injustice at times is not in plane sight.  Yet that does not mean it does not exist. We tend take the saying "out of site, out of mind" and use it when we find convenient. If we do not see something  then it might as well not exist. Maybe we try to excuse our blinders because we know that when we do witness something horrific we feel a certain level of responsibility to act, to speak out, to help.  

When it comes to the most horrific things that occur on a daily if not hourly basis around the world such as forced labor, sexual slavery, child abuse, domestic violence, and abuse of power, we feel overwhelmed at what exactly we are to do and how exactly we are to react.  Since its not part of OUR lives what can we really do?  Yet in our silence we are acting, we are becoming complacent, we are shutting out reality, isolating ourselves under that nice facade of who we are supposed to be.  I personally feel that I will be held accountable for not only what I have witnessed, but also for what I know.  

We underestimate the power we truly have; as individuals, as small communities and even as the Church.  History tell us time and time again that change began with one person who spoke out. Spoke out against injustice he or she observed, who did not settle for the reality what he or she was experiencing or seeing, but desired to seek and see change. 

I don't want to seem like the pot speaking to the kettle, since I too failed to speak out to the man who unjustly stole the packet of cookies.  A lessoned learned and perhaps next time I will have more courage or know how to tactfully approach the situation. Nevertheless, I hope that silence would not be my continued response to injustice, however great or small.  That I would speak up, act out and confront those who knowingly are hurting others. 

On that note, I would like you to check out the new "rockumentary" CALL+RESPONSE in select theaters nationwide.  

p.s. 50,000 farmers and laborers are on their way to La Paz to block Congress. They are due in Monday.  If you read this before then please pray, hope, meditate, whatever you believe in, that the march would be peaceful as promised. I have my doubts since all schools have suspended classes for Monday so to not expose students to possible violence. Hmmm.

food

Thailand is a hard act to follow when it comes to the culinary world.  Bolivia isn't renowned for its variety of flavor, but it does have a plethora of potatoes. So far I cannot stake too many complaints in the food department.  Although this past week I had to use my creativity to hide/make disappear both a portion of cow tongue and a LARGE portion of cow stomach.  I successfully did not even try a bite of either, I do have my limits (and so does my stomach).  

Breakfast has been interesting. The lady I live with, Doña Lurdes, likes to wake up and make something for me.  I am very grateful for her cooking, but I sometimes can´t enjoy hamburger patties and salad that early in the morning. Today I finally made it to a proper grocery store (most people shop at open markets) to buy snacks for work and oatmeal for breakfast.  

For lunch I either go out with coworkers to local hole in the walls or share a salad in the office.  There are three lunch clicks at the office and I am trying hard not to be placed in any of them. I have dinner at home, which is where I get most of my Bolivian cuisine.   Usually lunch and dinner begin with soup and then there is a main course that usually has rice AND potatoes.  As I mentioned there is a wide variety of potatoes, I have probably tried up to five types.  I am a huge potato fan, which is a good thing, but have not found a liking for the chuño (dehydrated potato).  Tonight I had the nice surprise of a banana sautéed in what I think was balsamic vinegar. Don´t knock it till you try it!

On the sweet side, Bolivians are huge coke fans, perhaps due to the huge use of the coca leaf.  There are also tons of bakeries, coffee and ice cream shops around my office, which keep my sweet tooth quite satisfied. 

The best part of all, is that rarely are preservatives used and most of the vegetables are organic.  

bon appetite!