A Comparison of Discomforts

During the two weeks the children were on break, we had a wonderful opportunity to go with the medical clinic to two colonies that had not been visited by any humanitarian groups or doctors for at least forty years. We drove five hours west of Thottanaval to reach these colonies - although the area was hotter (120 degrees, rather than a measly 108), since it was more in-land, it was less humid. It almost felt cool compared to what we're used to. Almost.

The patients' diabetes and blood pressures were recorded, followed by the washing and bandaging of each of the 200 patients within both colonies. Because nearly every leprosy patient in the colonies had never seen a doctor before, some of their conditions were beyond what I had ever seen before.

Out of respect to them (and, let's be honest, for the sake of my readers), I don't want this to become a blog of pictures of gaping ulcers and missing limbs. This time will be an exception to that stipulation. Hopefully my point will become more clear if you have an idea of what we're dealing with, and keep in mind that these are the more mild conditions.

As I washed and bandaged these people - strangers; people with whom I could hardly communicate with because we both speak completely different languages - I admit that yes, I was hot, tired, sweaty, a bit nauseated, it reeked, and there were no less than fifty bazillion flies constantly swarming around and landing on me. Let me rephrase that: I was a little bit complainy-inside-my-head at times. But as I compared my temporary discomfort to the perpetual aches and pains of those I was treating, I felt a bit repulsed by my mental grumbling. What on earth could I be complaining about when things like this are still happening in the world today?

I was once again reminded of what such a simple act of kindness means to these people. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in their condition: your extremities gradually loosing their feeling; your eyelids no longer able to close and relieve dry, dirt-ridden eyes, ultimately leading to cataracts and blindness; and more so, becoming a fear and disgrace to those you love, loosing your job, your family, your whole life. Up until a couple years ago, it was legal to beat a person affected with leprosy if their shadow touched you. Beat. And then imagine someone coming up to you, touching you, and telling you that they love you. I can’t ask them to know for sure, but I imagine it would be quite an overwhelming experience.

This is what is so amazing about Rising Star’s ambition - together, we can shatter the horrible stigma that leprosy brings to its victim and share with them the love they deserve. It’s not about washing someone’s feet. It’s about touching someone who is considered untouchable. We’re all God’s children, and we all deserve to feel loved and have a sense of worth; whether we’re Christian or Hindu; black or white; high school dropouts or successful businessmen. What difference does it make, and by all means, what have we to complain about?