A Little Perspective

A few days ago I told a friend of mine about my goal to thru-hike the Appalachian Trial.  As I described my plans, I realized how privileged and crazy I must have sounded to him.  This wasn’t the first time I had felt this way though the feelings were much more intense than they had been in the past.  

When I was in the Peace Corps, one of the elders on the island asked me what I was going to do after I completed my service.  When I described my plans to thru-hike he asked a number of questions.  What was so important about it?  Would I make money?  Why would I want to do that?  What was the point?  At the time I remember thinking that he didn’t understand the drive that Americans have in regards to making goals and working towards them.  Future planning was not part of his culture.  He lived in a place where people didn’t focus on the future because they were busy surviving the day and the week.  Their lives revolved around securing food and taking care of  daily needs.  My impression was that people trusted God for the future and didn’t plan much further than tomorrow. 

My friend had fled his home country for fear of losing his life.  He has witnessed horrific things that I cringe to even imagine.  He would do anything for the right to work in America and here I was, working a job just so I could earn money to buy gear to go live and walk in the woods by choice.  

My plan to hike felt so selfish and frivolous.  What a privilege it was to have the opportunity to think about the future, to be able to take six months to travel and not work.   I was reminded just how lucky I have been in my life.  Times weren’t always easy, but I have always had a roof over my head, food, school, and the encouragement to dream.

A little perspective is both refreshing and heartbreaking.