In the first part I explored how the goodness of God is expressed in the culture and attitudes of the people I’ve interacted with here in Uganda. I also looked at one of the contributing factors that has resulted in this attitude being present here (in Uganda), and not here (in the western world). This second post explores the second reason, that being, the openness of poverty, or the in-your-face reality of poverty here in Uganda.
The openness of Poverty
The second is the openness of poverty. Here in Uganda, you can’t escape it. Even if your wealthy, you have a decent house, food on the table and family all around you, your only a stones throw away from someone who doesn’t. Poverty is everywhere, and its in your face.
Moving back to the UK (or any other western country) and poverty exists. The food banks that feed millions of people across the UK are evidence of that. The homelessness, unemployment and lack of an income sufficient to support a basic lifestyle are all evidence that poverty has not gone. What’s the difference then? Four Walls. Poverty is in the open in Uganda, its on the streets, its in your neighbourhood, its surrounding the church, its in the open. In the UK, its hiding behind four walls. Both Physically, where people are struggling in their homes to provide for their family, and mentally, where we are plagues with the “I’m fine” disease. We like to where masks, we wont admit we need help, we don’t want people to see we aren’t coping, that we aren’t able meet our own needs, let alone the needs of our children.
You may not have noticed the “I’m fine” disease, but just listen this week and you will see it. It’s so bad that I am greeted by young children here in Uganda, who know very little english with “Hi how are you I’m fine thank you” (yes, its all one sentence), because that’s all that we say!
All of this I feel, contributes to our lack of expression of gratitude, we just don’t realise just how blessed we are.
