The Path Less Traveled by the Human Spirit

I have always believed in an attitude of gratitude and developing a habit of seeing the positive which exists within every negative. While spending the last 1 ½ years living in Indonesia my senses have been absorbing a variety of experiences, the vast contrast of wealth and poverty being only the superficial.

The depravation of education and lack other basic needs has tested my courage and love in many new ways. With corruption around every corner I’ve noticed the path of least resistance prevails and is often encouraged.
Education is often limited and takes a back seat to work for many children, making it difficult for them to stray from that path. I had recently been told of disabled children who were discarded, hidden and even locked in cages due to the embarrassment brought to their families. Lack of resources and proper medical care has left them with little hope for a better life.

We were recently invited by a friend to visit a school in Padesan designed to help these children. Immediately we agreed our friends would donate goodie bags and we would provide free health check-ups.

Along the way we passed many children, dresses to their ankles and heads wrapped in scarves all happily walking the long road in the unrelenting Indonesian sun. Upon our arrival the children welcomed us with a presentation, and that’s when IT happened. A magnificent display of maximized human potential! These children were taking anything but the path of least resistance, using every challenge they ever faced towards the total expression of life within them.
Their spectacular presentation included a team of deaf children performing a rare form of martial arts requiring deliberate movements in time with music. One of them may even be competing in Japan for the world title. Another magical display of talent was a group playing music in harmony, music which they cannot hear! These children have all learned sign language, mastered wood working skills and now have the ability to not only function but excel in society.
To me the miracle is not their potential, I believe that exists within us all, to me It is the unrelenting ambition to achieve maximum potential and the practical application of it which I’m so humbled by. I mean how many us can truly say the same of ourselves?