Seeing vs. Witnessing By Joed Lopez

Humbleness is everything. It is the prerequisite to learning. I am astonished, and sometimes frightened at how much we think we know about those around us. Whether its in a country miles away, or a colleague in the cubicle next to us, there is a wealth of information out there that can easily enlighten us to the true nature of reality. This trip has shift the worldviews of many including myself. Everyday that passes, I become more humbled that the more I know, the more I know I don’t know. I believe that having this type of humility can help us reach new levels of awareness and consciousness.

We learned a lot about various trade policies and how it has significantly impacted the people of Nicaragua and much of Latin America. It is important to highlight that what allows this knowledge to sink in more is not so much the studies or statistics of those who are suffering, but the personal encounters of those who bleed the same color of blood that I do, who have to worry about where they are going to get their food on a daily basis. I have met someone who lived off the trash of a garbage dump yesterday. It gave the saying “one mans trash is another mans treasure” a very sad and sobering new meaning.

What is amazing and inspirational about the people we are meeting is that regardless of the conditions that are beyond their control, they make the most of what little they have, and use it to serve their community. I met a 28-year-old woman who saw a need to attend to those who are sick around her. And now, there is a mini-clinic set up from converting a portion of her house (which might actually look more like some of our sheds). While she is greatly limited compared to an actual hospital, it is more than they had to begin with. And as more people hear and read about resilient people like this, who knows what can happen next for them. There is something we need to remember though… It all comes down to how we assess what we witness. Yamith, the woman who used to live off of garbage, noticed high levels of violence in her community. While others saw death and desperation, she witnessed the potential of creating peace. After creating a soccer league for the youth, violence was reduced drastically. It is one thing to see something but it is another to witness it. When this occurs, we take the encounter in and it becomes part of whom we are, and it becomes impossible to not do anything about it.

I ask you all, are you seeing something, or are you witnessing it? Are we just letting the status quo blind us of the possibilities that can be created? Or are we taking the steps necessary to raise the quality of life of all around us?

I know that people who put politics, policy, and profit over people will most likely always exist. I know that we do not live in a perfect world and may never will, but the potential out there to create the change we need is too big and too close within our reach to do nothing. We may not change Nicaragua within the 13 days we are here, but I have no problem being a stepping-stone for those who will tomorrow. Now that will be a sight to see...and witness.

In Love,
JL