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[Mexico trip, March 2001]
Things don't always go according to plan in Mexico. The pace of life is a little slower. For many a nine o'clock appointment may mean ten o'clock or even manana (tomorrow), I think the philosophy of life in Mexico was best expressed by one of my friends, a few years ago I was waiting for Juan, one of our Mexican preachers, to help drive to the border. I was looking for him to arrive early in the morning so that I would be able to reach the border before dark. Nine A.M. came and went, twelve noon and still no Juan. By three in the afternoon I was becoming somewhat agitated. "Bro. Jim," my little sister retorted, "you have all day to wait for Juan." Around five in the afternoon Juan arrived. He had taken the wrong bus and had been to just about every city in the northern part of the country.
But the world didn't come to an end and life goes on here in Mexico. For them the system developed over thousands of years works. It may try the patience of the foreigners who would bask in its sunshine and taste the mystic flavor of the country. But we must remember, it is thier country and if they are happy with their system of daily life who are we to critisize. A few miles from the city of Leon President Bush of the USA will be meeting with President Fox of Mexico. I don't have any ideal what the presidents of these sisters countries will talk about, but it certainly points out the importance of Mexico to the U.S. and visa versa. Everyday that passes the frontier between us grows ever dimmer. It is hard to find a community in the U.S. that is not inhabited by some of the folks of Mexico. When one thinks about the battles fought by the U.S. in the past with this country, they seem somewhat futile as the mass migration of the Mexican people moves ever northward. Though the Mexican government does not own the territory -- house by house, and lot by lot they claim their part of the American dream.
One of the traits that stands the average Mexican in good stead is their ingenuity. For example a mother rides three of her children with her on a motor scooter. While eating the other day at an outdoor restaurant I was serenaded by three men, who of course got a few pesos for their trouble. Mothers ply the streets of practically ever city and pueblo with food they have prepared hoping to make a few pesos to raise their family. Men in horse drawn carts can be heard announcing their wares, from purified water, propane gas, peanuts, oranges, you name it they are selling it.
Stop at the stop lights and a small invasion takes place. Newspapers, chewing gum, flowers and even entertainment - juggling - is paraded before you in hopes of making a few pesos. Hey it may seem strange to us, but children are being fed and bills are being paid. We could learn something from these determined folks. We used to call it good old American ingenuity. But much of it seems to have been lost as we depend more and more on those checks that show up at the bank around the first of the month. I'm not knocking it because it won't be too long that I will line up with my amigos at the post office.
There are few hand outs for the Mexican, But sonehow they find a way and everybody is out there trying. They have a determination that will not quit. If you won't buy their wares ot hire them to clean your yard, somebody else will. Just keep asking and sooner or later the sale will be made. It was our Lord that taught us to pray, "give us this day our daily bread." and again he" taught us, "suffiient unto the day is the evil thereof." Christ taught us to trust in the Father to provide us with our daily needs. It is a big world that we live in and billions of people occupy their space in it. And yet the father feeds us all. Red and Yellow, Black and White, we are precious in his site. Thank you Father for beans and tortilla, for rice and potatoes, for cornbread and corn. The miracle was not that he fed 5000 with the lads loaves and fishes, but that He since time began, has feed the humana race, 24 hours a day, 7 day a week, 4 weeks a month, 12 months a year. He not only made us but he sustains us and everyone man women boy aod girl that lives or has ever lived on the planet we call earth.