VoF Week 4; Rising again, for we can tarry no longer; From Pathology to Vision

Let me start from the beginning.

Let me say that I am writing from the perspective of an African woman. Not old, and yet, at my age, the pain and anguish I have felt is worth several lifetimes, which is why, as Meena Dee so very aptly puts it in Laurence Hill's excellent work 'The Book of Negroes', I too can say that '...there must be a reason why I have lived this long...., while others fell ...or shut their eyes and simply willed their lives to end. . .

When the tragedies and disasters that we are accustomed to seeing only on television visit us in our homes, when those we love refuse to fight against HIV/AIDS and die horrible and undignified deaths, hammering in our minds that we no longer can look at this epidemic in terms of numbers; when our beloved cannot look life in the face and rather choose to hide in the world of alcohol, sex and drugs, neglecting and causing immeasurable pain to their dependants and loved ones; when we and others watch men we love beat the living daylight from women we call our mothers and do nothing because to act is to 'be feminist'; when we grow food for others and cannot afford our own food; when work is a struggle to come by and basic upkeep becomes a luxury…. Indeed, when human dignity, inherently ours, becomes a commodity beyond our reach... When we experiences these tragedies, we follow one of two paths …

In my view, tragedy leads us to either of two paths. It either lifts us to heights of courage and victory that leaves all amazed at how we possibly could have survived. On the other hand, and more often than not, tragedy shrivels our spirits and makes us chose insanity over sanity, because obviously, the former is easier. When we are insane, there are no expectations.

Having said that, let me also say that for me, 'Vision' speaks of movement. It means that where I am is not where I am meant to be. It means that I not only have seen a better place, but this better place is where I now seek to go.

I, Wanjiru Mungai, have a vision, for myself, and indeed for the world. I want to travel the second path of tragedy. I want to be a victor. I want to see those who have hurt use their hurt to heal. I want to banish revenge from the face of the earth. I want to bring healing. In Pulsewire, I have found the solution. ‘From Pathology to Vision’. I believe that through this training opportunity, I will be able to reach my vision of integrating the painful experiences of my part to heal not only myself but others as well; by creating a forum where others discover that they are not alone in their pain,and that it is possible to rise again, for we can tarry no longer, for the world needs healing.

Long live Pulsewire, Long life WorldPulse.