Why do we spend our lives in loneliness and isolation when there are wonderful folks out there who would not only be company but also enrich our lives?
Today, I decided to go out of my self-induced-home loving-but-lonely-self and take an acquaintance out for lunch. The fun started when I stopped at her house to pick her up. I spent twenty minutes getting to know her and her partner better (by the way, I dont like the term partner!). This was an education on its own because this older gentleman is a repository of history. Every utterance of his was peppered with wisdom. He read books from authors I never knew existed, who write about topics I never knew had been written about. I left promising to seek out the nearest library to my house.
My friend knew this place where they serve great Caribean food. We decided to patronize our brothers. The food lived up to expectation so we asked to give our compliment directly to the chef. Out came this brother with the most amazing dreadlocks; neatly gathered and held with a blue bandana. Now, I must confess that I have never talked to a guy with dreadlocks. Why? Because of some preconcived notion that dreadlocks signify trouble. I bought the unschooled and ignorant notion that wearers are rebels. I can now confute this belief, thanks to the young man who spent just fifteen minutes with us and left me ashamed of my unjustified belief.
From St Kitts, he is working two jobs to ensure that not only himself but his people back home are alright. His dream is to go home, although he regrets the fact that his beautiful island is falling apart. Talking to him, I ended up seeing the dreads as a crowning glory on the head of person who is not only a great cook but also an intellegent and focused gentleman.
Driving home, I remembered bible characters like John the Baptist and Samson who we admire and who were supposed to be close to God. Did those alive at that time cross the roads at their approach because they looked different? "Yikes, here comes those troublesome Nazerenes!" Could dreads have been more acceptable if it originated from the Western world? Why did I allow myself to see them as trouble just because some ignorant people said so? How many of us lose out on life due to prejudice? Questions! questions!! questions!!!
Arriving home, I decided to make use of my God-given intelligence and read up on Rastafarians and dreadlocks. It makes a fascinating read and I recommend you to delve into it yourself.
Will this make me grow such locks in the future? No way. I don't even think that my scanty, flyaway hair can be coaxed into it. But I will have more respect for those who do. More importantly, I will try harder not to be guided by other peoples opinion but rather work hard at finding out for myself. That's is part of the reason why God gave me my brains. I do Him injustice everytime I fail to use it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
It is a common issue: it is a human tendency to make assumptions about people, events, and situations, often based on a limited experience or anecdote that we have heard. As we get set in our ways, it is often harder and harder to be open to new experiences.
One of my favourite sayings: the plural of anecdote is *not* evidence!
Another exprssion, in layman's terms, is:
To 'assume' makes an ASS out of YOU and ME
However, you were open minded enough to have your beliefs challenged and accept new thinking. Which speaks columes of you as a person.
Post a Comment