January 23, 2009
The Second Half
Three cups of tea
BY DEACON JIM AND ANN CAVERA
At more than 28,000 feet tall, K2 is the second highest mountain in the world. It rests in a remote corner of the earth on the border between Pakistan and China. Though not as high as Mt. Everest, it is judged to be more difficult to climb. As of last August, 2,600 people had reached the summit of Everest, but only 305 had ever been able to conquer K2.
We became interested in K2 while we were reading “Three Cups of Tea” by David Oliver Relin. This number one New York Times bestseller is the story of how Greg Mortenson, an accomplished climber, failed to reach the summit of K2. Instead, after helping rescue another climber, he lost his way on the descent. By the time he stumbled into the isolated mountain village of Korphe he was shattered both physically and emotionally. The villagers depleted their meager resources to save his life. Their kindness opened his mind and heart to a new goal; he vowed to return and build a school for the children of the village. The obstacles he encountered along the way proved far more formidable than any mountain he had ever tried to conquer.
While we finish this column, the inauguration of our first African-American president is taking place. As Barack Obama becomes the 44th president, our nation is searching for direction. Some of us keep trying to reach summits that are about personal recognition, honor and achievement. Like most of the climbers who continue to spend thousands of dollars trying to scale K2, we often overlook the deep needs of the people we pass along the way. We miss seeing how much the poorest among us can teach us about living lives of simplicity, love and peace.
Early in his inaugural address President Obama said, “Everywhere we look there is work to be done.” A few sentences later he said, “We must have the willingness to find meaning in something greater than ourselves.” All of his words spoke of a new direction in leadership and new priorities in thinking. Some of the most moving words were spoken in the Benediction by Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, co-founder with Dr. Martin Luther King of the Southern Leadership Conference. He asked God to “Help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate.” After the inaugural address one reporter noted that the word “I” was used by the new president only three times in his entire speech.
On this inauguration day, we pray our nation will have the vision to seek a new way of life, one based on serving others and less about ourselves. We pray that all in leadership, including our president will understand that the most helpless among us, the unborn, must be protected. Stumbling down from our personal mountains will be very difficult, but there are signs of real hope. Greg Mortenson’s story of building not one but dozens of schools is the story of how a single person, fully focused on something greater than himself, can make a difference that will impact generations to come. That kind of service doesn’t have to involve huge programs or large sums of money. It does involve openness, love and a willingness to work for the good of others. As Obama takes office, we can think of no better way to go in a new direction than to take the time to sit down with our neighbors and drink “Three Cups of Tea.”
Deacon Jim and Ann Cavera are former residents of Evansville; their award-winning column is a regular feature of the Message. Contact them at www.catholicseniorspirit.com.