“I have so much I want to say to young people, so they don’t make the same mistakes i did.”
The man shakes his head seriously and i can see the regret that lies behind the gesture. The afternoon was breezy, but we were sitting indoors in the cool of the building.
He seemed to be in his sixties and his face carried the peaceful exte- rior that comes with years of re ection. I could tell he had done a lot of thinking over his life, and there was so much he wanted to share. I couldn’t help but wonder: would the youth he spoke to bother to listen?
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Our Man’Amko are treasures for our community. They have lived long and have passed through their own youth; many have had families of their own. They have watched while the world changes and witnessed firsthand the transformations within their own island worlds. They have had to say goodbye to many loved ones and have seen the unfairness of some being taken too young while those around them grapple with grief.
Some have lessons they wish to impart to the young, in order to spare them the suffering that they themselves have had to endure. It would be a mistake not to honor this lifetime of learning. People who have lived through a lot have much to offer us all.
This easter season, try to listen when your elders speak. if at times they ramble and struggle to nd their words, be patient. It is hard to capture the richness of a life in a few sentences, after all.
Make a point to visit an older neighbor or friend and just stay for a while. Look through old photos or ask them about their early years. Or maybe, just simply sit in silence and keep someone company who might not want to speak or who does not feel the need to be heard. This is also a way to be a good friend.
God bless our Man’Amko, strong or weak, rich and poor alike. May the Lord watch over them all.
