SEC-S30W1: Anecdotes that teach: (While the Bridge was still Unfinished)

The day I traveled from Imo state Nigeria, to Anambra state, I did not know a life lesson awaits me on the road.

The morning began with movements and high expectations, the bus hummed steadily and I kept watch as the landscape slide past the window. The palm trees and scattered houses filled my eyes as I kept thinking about arriving my destination on time and everything waiting ahead.

Just immediately, the journey slowed. At first, it was a reduction im speed, then a crawl and finally a complete stop.

I managed to stretch my head to see what help us captive, cars were lined up in a long cue, passengers and drivers stepped down to seek what has kept us on hold.

Finally, I saw it, the road was under a serious construction. Heavy machines stood boldly in the middle of our path. Excavators kept digging dip into the ground as if searching for something dug beneath surface. Each truk waited for their turns to carry away sand. And a little bit ahead of them stood an unfinished bridge over a small stream.

The sight explained the delay but still didn't ease the impatience around me. Murmurs filled the air, all passengers kept complaining and checking their phones and wrist watches repeatedly. A woman beside me sighed loudly and said, “This country sef...”

But as my eyes wandered around, I noticed something that did not match the afore mentioned frustration.

Below the half built bridge, in the shallow stream, children were playing

They were not aware of the deadline,nor cared about the traffic, but instead their laughter rose above the engine sounds. I kept watching as a small boy carried a white bucket almost bigger than his arm, another splashed water on his friend and ran, while a little girl at the edge kept busy rinsing clothes on the flowing water.

At that moment, I felt though I was watching two different movies playing at the same time, and while in a confused state, I wondered if I should still laugh while been upset or just look away from those kids, but their play got me glued.

Our bus remained still for a long time as dust settled on the window. The sun was really burning and heat kept pressing against our skin,yet the children kept laughing, splashing and living their lives.

I found myself wondering why we struggle so much with delays.

Eventually, the traffic began to move, engines roared back to life, the limes of cars kept kept moving slowly. As we moved, I looked again at the children while they still played, laughed and free with nature.

As we progressed towards Anambara, I realized that the road had taught me something no classroom ever did. Life will always place one in a season of construction, plans may pause, movements may slow, but while we wait for the bridge to be completed, we must not forget how to stand in our own small stream and find joy to keep us through that moment, because destination matters.

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I invite @ruthjoe @mariami @pandora2010

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