A Ghanaian Perspective

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In the village, Ghanaians live everyday in and with nature; with the spider and her magnificent web, with the vibrant colors of the song birds, the diversity of the chameleon and continuous sounds of nature. Yet the rural Ghanaians don’t recognize it as beautiful or amazing. The same would apply for any of us that spend our entire life near the mountains or the sea. We tend to become numb to the “awe” of our surroundings.

Take a rural Ghanaian to a major city and they look beyond the smog and dirty streets. They close their nose to the stench of the clogged gutters. They see street lights shinning and traffic lights controlling. They see the height and strength of two and three story buildings towering over them. The hustle and bustle of people passing mixed with the sound of taxi horns is all music to their ears. They will take this all in and comment, “It is beautiful”.

As a culture Ghanaians respect anyone older then themselves, also those with a higher position. Within the city they see man’s creation and ability and are awed by it. Therefore they quickly honor those in authority and show respect to those in control of the man made creation we call a city.

My own perspective: While walking thru the bush I prefer to stop and admire a single wild flower. Thinking; “God put that flower there just for me. He knew I would pass this way today and stop to appreciate its beauty.” And I thank Him for it. Even in the city there are God given gems. Consider the spider with me, her swiftness and her accuracy. When you are fortunate enough, stop and notice the beauty, strength and perfect cemectrics of a dew covered web. To me she is far more amazing and fantastic then the size and strength of a common city structure. The spider’s personal abilities and accuracy are far more captivating. Ok, you don’t like spiders? Who can resist a starry night … hmm … that’s sometimes difficult to grasp in the city. But a full moon is easily seen anywhere. We have all heard that each and every snowflake is unique in design. Did you ever consider the clouds? Each and every puffy white on a blue backdrop is unique and ever changing. Oh nature is far more interesting then man made stuff - like this computer!

What about you? What catches your attention? Is it something that deserves a “Thanks God”? If we are alive, then we have many things to give thanks for, though it is so easy to forget to give the thanks. At school we begin each day with prayer. First on the list of prayers is “Thanks”. We thank God for the room we have to sleep in (though most are made of only mud and sticks) - not everybody has one. We thank God for the shoes on our feet (even if we only have one pair of flip-flops) - not everybody has some. We thank God for the clothes on our back today - not everybody has some. If you consider yourself “poor” then you are comparing yourself to the wrong people. Look the other direction and you’ll find someone in a worse situation then you. Something as simple as looking at life from another perspective could make you “rich”.

Throughout the holiday season why not give thanks each day for something unique and simple. Maybe as a family when you gather around the dinner table each member can give thanks for something different. It’s a good tradition and/or habit to incorporate into our lives. I think it may be something Kirk and I begin doing as well.

May you stay focused on what is really important and be blessed in the coming weeks.
Christine & Co

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Photos

Old Lady Cracking Nuts
Siting under a tree outside her house this woman uses two stones to crack the inner kernals of palm nuts, one at a time. Later they will make oil from the nut and soap from the shell.

A Typical Kitchen
A typical village kitchen. See the cooking pot on the "stove" next to the woman. Fire wood, stacked neatly, is easy to come by when you live near the rain forest.

Happy Boys
Though they don't have many "things" in life, africans are generally very happy people.

Comments

[Sandy]

Beauty of Africa
Thanks, Christine and Kirk, for this reminder of the wonder of our God and His creation. The people of Africa are beautiful and examples as they perservere through day-to-day life struggles. Though few in things of this world, they are rich in relationships....the heart of God. Let us be thankful to God and remember, as you have, that we are blessed to be a blessing.

[Nana]

Snowflakes for Thanksgiving day 11/22/07
On Nov. 22nd a very special person was born some years ago. I have known him only a few of those year-- his name is Kirk Wiltse. You may call him by other names in Africa. This Thanksgiving day I had him in mind all of the day. I wore a funny vest with cows on it that I got one year while in North Dakota, where Kirk was born. I told told the family I was having my wonderful meal with about him and his work in Africa. But, the most special part of that day was when I awoke in the early morning to see a very "White snow" covering the yard outside my bedroom window. Now Kirk I am told does not like the snow so much as Christine- who believes that the first snow of the year (here in MIchigan where she was born) should come on her birthday Nov 2. But this year God said I will shower my snowflakes (each one is individual and unique we are told, but it is hard to prove as they melt into one beautiful blanket covering the trees and ground) in my part of Michigan so I could give thanks for the man called Kirk who is a special part of my life- my son-in-law. I hope God blessed him very much that day and grant him many more years of service to God's children - young and old. Ps. I love you too Christine and Praise and Kwabs

[Matt]

Thanks
I know its an old posting, but wow, how true. We do forget to realize the beauty in the things around us. A Ghanaian bush star filled night sky is the most beautiful thing i've ever seen.