While flicking through my photographs the other day, I came across one of a basket weaver from Ssesse Island, Uganda and I started thinking…
Weaving basket designs is a complex craft that takes much skill and dexterity. To see an expert at work is so fascinating that I had watched this particular lady for hours. What was astonishing, however, was that a young African man had also become engrossed as the basket weaver performed her craft.
Wondering whether the young man was more interested in the basket weaving or the weaver, I approached the unexpected couple. On being asked about his interest in weaving, the wise young man looked at me with complete bemusement and replied that he didn’t know how to weave so was watching because we can always learn something from one another. Of all the lessons I’ve learned during my travels, one of the finest is that wisdom has nothing to do with wealth and little to do with formal education! Wisdom can be found in every village, every town, every city, country, and continent in every corner of the earth. Moreover, the wisest are often not those who are the most vocal but, instead, those who are quiet and self-effacing. The young man on Ssesse Island is a perfect example. His stature in the village was such that he was not expected to study the lowly task of basket weaving; yet, there he was. And to top it off, this self-effacing young man threw out a pearl of wisdom so effortlessly. As I watch what is happening in our world today, I find myself wishing that more people had the wisdom of my young African friend. Much time has passed since I met the young man but I have carried his memory and wisdom in my heart ever since. And I believe whole-heartedly that it doesn’t matter who we are, we can always learn something from one another.
Empowerment of women - this was the one aim of Blessed Mary of the Passion in serving the less fortunate that led her to open educational institutions, health-care services and set up small income-generating works for women. We respond to the cry of the poor, the oppressed and the marginalized, especially the women through the same services today. We work for the integrity of creation through non-violence and eco-justice, sharing God's gifts with all.
Her farsightedness in establishing a printing press in the 19th century itself, to publish The Annals of the Institute as a means of sharing news and views with the wider public has set the trend for us to utilize the potent means of the media to communicate the compassionate face of God to all peoples thereby promoting communion and human relationships.
