In Uganda, you grow up used to “Traffic jam”, like we call it. Clock Tower phone grabbers, evening naps as the conductor “forgets” you, and Kwanjula conversations in the back seat.
In recent days, however, I haven’t been more proud of motorbikes, known here as boda bodas.
Zooming past high-rise Yusuf Lule buildings on the back of a guy that first hesitated to take me for 2k has left me feeling like a double winner. The second win coming from swerving past all those sleek Fords and Escalades, inching bumper to bumper as life’s priorities slip away and eternity draws closer.
Now, what kind of pride is this that causes motorless Kampalans like me speak with my nose almost in the air?
Well, your welcome.
You are welcome to the world I have been observing lately, the world where kid- carrying mums are arriving home past 9pm, to do three things (or thirteen) before bed- prepare tomorrow’s uniform, fix dinner for everybody, and conduct maid appraisal sessions.
Welcome to this gender-insensitive world of Kampala traffic jam, where suave bachelors and honourable hubbies giggle away at WhatsApp notifications behind the wheels as they await the third (or does it feel like the sad) truck to give way.
Meanwhile, another to-do list awaits these men too. Pass the “kikomando” guy (bachelors) find out what the plumber did, ask little Jeffs and Tinas intelligent questions at the dining table, find out wife’s day in the couch, figure out tomorrow’s schedule, and oh, it’s her birthday month, dare you forget, now- husband!
This may all come off dramatic, even hyperbolic, but traffic jam in the developing world is something with the lethal potential to waste our lives.
I don’t know about you but it seems like as long as I am still holding this Ugandan passport, I am going to require intense discipline to paint with daughter daily, catch up with wife in couch, and still rise early enough to worship and write a to-do list, (with hopes to review it the following evening)
This is going to be no cup of tea, but if I am going to live like a Christian, then “redeeming the time” (Eph 5:16), like the great Apostle reminds, is going to matter.
And if it does, then the things nibbling away at my valuable time are going to be out of my window. Starting with road time, Otherwise, I am bound to waste my life.
For now, my general suspicion is that traffic jam is damaging our priorities deeper than we imagine, and maybe your case is different or is it?
How are you resolving your traffic experience, let us hear?
Image:businesstips.co.za
Maaaeeeennn oh maaaeeennn. This got me back to what i have been considering and praying about, a decision i am still dreading; leaving the comfort of my current residence to stay closer to my work place. May God help us.
Hue he, Thanks for dropping by Elle, go for it, there is definately no discernment in spending 4 hours on teh road daily, is there?
The word that comes to mind is INTENTIONALITY
We can’t run away from that – at least not for forever. Otherwise, time will fly away- second after second, and wonder how it happened so fast
O God that I may number my days aright and gain a heart of wisdom
Amen!