Another day for laughter and another day for tears. I found out last night that the lady in the middle of the photograph passed away last year.
Mea was the Pastor's wife at Boera Village and she spent her time leading a women's group that would get together during the week and just simply engage with each other. Some days it was craftwork, some days it was simply tea and cake, some days it was consoling a loved one that had passed and some days it was full of joy and fun.
But it was the same when we would visit, Mea would always make room, make space, stop things and start things so that she could offer her voice, her smile, her warmth.
Very sad for all who shared in her generosity and spirit. Must be tough to return and have all the bad news arrive at once instead of interspersed through the years. Good that you were graced to have known her. Lovely portrait.
@swilde@myautofocuslife@robv@maggiemae - Thank you everyone... and yes, it has been yet another rollercoaster emotional ride upon my return, but that is what this country does best.
I agree with @robv about how you are learning all the sad things on your return all at the same time. This photo is a tribute to her and a testimony to her wonderful spirit!
@hellcat - I think studying theology would be really interesting but you kinda get pigeon holed for life... the job market after study would be limiting.
@hellcat - this is true, but I sometimes wonder how serious people of theology are taken when they say they are not aligned to one religion and they are just keen to learn about all of them... I am sure there are others out there who are unsure of those types. Isn't the Ba'hai faith a bunch of fence sitters?
@bobfoto lol, I almost choked! Yes, the Ba'Hai are! Sweet group of people though. I think when you study all religions what you really are is a student of spiritual philosophy, not really of one group or another, so being a preacher is probably out unless you specialize in your studies. As I said before, or at least implied, I grew up in the Adventist system, and we had Bible classes and religious studies from early on that were required. By the time you're in high school you're studying other Christian faiths and Judaism, but they always glossed over Islamic (which coincidentally has a lot in common as it's Abrahamic), and barely mentioned any eastern religions. In my opinion, it's unfortunate to not understand the religious beliefs of a culture as I feel the religious structure seems to reflect a lot about the moral structure of a community. If we can't understand those differences how can we possibly get along?
I admire your bluntness. Fence sitters was hilarious. For the record, being raised in the system is NOT what happened to me.
@hellcat - tee hee. Mind you, I like the premise behind the Ba'hai, but then again, I kinda scratch the surface of all the world's religions. But I do so because I don't want to sound like a total dweeb if I find myself caught up in a discussion of theology. I certainly believe that everyone is welcome to their own faith and I understand how there are many similarities amongst them all.
I think when religion gets in too deep and starts to fray the fabric of society then perhaps society struggles with morals and tenets, and this is when things get a bit weird and icky. And I mean cults and extended family groups that isolate themselves and hole themselves up in the mountains trying to find their own nirvana... kinda gets a bit loopy then!
Oh and Australians are good at bluntness, we call a spade a spade and a shovel a fucking shovel.
Why is it we worry so much if we don't have the answers? :) I'm sure you're never a dweeb.
See I tend to think communities (cultural groups) base their societal structures off of a religious structure-- or maybe the religious structure is there to enforce the rules and regulations therefore coming post a groups development as an entity. I don't mind isolationist groups so long as they're not trying to enforce policy on non-members, and in some cases I'd rather they isolate themselves. (I.e. the KKK and any hate group, while not religious on their own their ideology is personally offensive so I'd rather they just go hide; seeing as I'm not allowed to take their liberties away from them this isolation thing would be ok with me. Oh, or the Westboro Baptist Church people, they're more than welcome to go start a little commune somewhere and leave the rest of us alone.) Maybe isolating the loopiness isn't so bad?
I like blunt. More people should be blunt. And less people should take offense to it.
@hellcat - I like your idea about leaving the isolated to themselves. I recall a group of Americans who created a small commune in the hills behind Lae (PNG) where they aimed to be self sufficient. They did everything themselves and formed their own security, their own gardens and their own religion. I could not understand why they chose PNG to do this and also why they did not contribute to the people of PNG. I do not know the full story and my view maybe incorrect, but it did seem very odd indeed.
I love how there can be several threaded conversations on pretty much everything. :) And thank you... keep in mind I have severe blonde moments where my brain has completely left the building. Don't have any unfair expectations here. :)
I'd have to look that up. They probably felt it was a place where they would be completely left alone, but if that's the case, they may have had some questionable practices. Think about it, America isn't really the land of the free, but it's pretty tolerant of a lot of stuff, so moving out to a remote area/country might be their own special brand of crazy.
@hellcat - I do know of many foreigners who move to PNG and take part in the Summer Institute of Linguistics and live in a village translating the bible into the local tok ples. Perhaps the people I heard about was an off shoot of SIL?
I admire your bluntness. Fence sitters was hilarious. For the record, being raised in the system is NOT what happened to me.
I think when religion gets in too deep and starts to fray the fabric of society then perhaps society struggles with morals and tenets, and this is when things get a bit weird and icky. And I mean cults and extended family groups that isolate themselves and hole themselves up in the mountains trying to find their own nirvana... kinda gets a bit loopy then!
Oh and Australians are good at bluntness, we call a spade a spade and a shovel a fucking shovel.
See I tend to think communities (cultural groups) base their societal structures off of a religious structure-- or maybe the religious structure is there to enforce the rules and regulations therefore coming post a groups development as an entity. I don't mind isolationist groups so long as they're not trying to enforce policy on non-members, and in some cases I'd rather they isolate themselves. (I.e. the KKK and any hate group, while not religious on their own their ideology is personally offensive so I'd rather they just go hide; seeing as I'm not allowed to take their liberties away from them this isolation thing would be ok with me. Oh, or the Westboro Baptist Church people, they're more than welcome to go start a little commune somewhere and leave the rest of us alone.) Maybe isolating the loopiness isn't so bad?
I like blunt. More people should be blunt. And less people should take offense to it.
I'd have to look that up. They probably felt it was a place where they would be completely left alone, but if that's the case, they may have had some questionable practices. Think about it, America isn't really the land of the free, but it's pretty tolerant of a lot of stuff, so moving out to a remote area/country might be their own special brand of crazy.