There are people in this country who will live their entire lives never venturing far beyond their neighborhoods or villages. Is the proper response to pity? To help? To teach? If the “American Dream” is to be happy, then is it better to just leave them as they are in a blissful state of ignorance?
So what do I do with that? What is my responsibility to the world or anyone just because I am born as I am. A friend here told me, “I do not deserve to be born with these things – these privileges – I just happen to have them. So the question is, what do I do now?”
Amazing how things once thought to be essential are not so essential after all. The most significant things are not so important. Showers, you realize, are not something that must occur daily. Food and drink typically are non-negotiable, but the frequency and amount are fairly variable. Beds – definitely less and less necessary. In the past weeks, I have slept in places ranging from homes to hotels, airports to cars to a floor, but after a while: sleep is sleep.
Proof in my mind that creature comforts are only that: comforts. They are far less than necessary… even useless at times. “Look at the ‘stuff’ it takes for us to live,” a friend said pointing around the house, “We have all these things to put things in, but if you have less ‘things’ then there are fewer reasons for the extra stuff.
The most beautiful houses here are simple, plain, white, unadorned. They are large and open. Some modest wooden furniture, tables and little else. Functional and beautiful at the same time.
So, what do I do with that? What do I do with the knowledge?
Stay tuned…
-Noah D.
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PS: This photo is completely unrelated. So is the title.
