I Am Here

Among tribes in northern Natal in South Africa, the most common greeting, equivalent to “hello” in English, is the expression, “Sawa Bona”. It literally means, “I see you.” If you are a member of the tribe, you might reply by saying ‘Sikhona’, “I am here”. It is as though, until you are seen, you do not truly exist. Most of us spend most of our time not truly seeing each other. We may see someone for what they can do for us, or for what their acheivments are, or for how they make us feel, but that's not the same thing. Imagine what would happen if we took the time to look at each other with clear eyes and honest hearts? I think it would require compassion. I think it would require courage. And I think there would be a lot of violence, both emotional and physical, that we would no longer be capable of perpetrating. Imagine that.

Hello

Hello Gentle REaDer,

This is my new blog. Very soon I will have something profound to say. Any minute now.