Extreme Opulence vs Extreme Poverty ... the sad reflections of life

Somewhere in the world today, one man or woman (or both) are going to tuck into the finest linens that money can purchase after wining and dining in the finest of restaurants available in the affluent parts of metropolitan cities strewn across the world. These are folk whose bank accounts, note accounts, reflect unimaginable amounts of dollars or euros or shillings, their intangibles reflected in stocks and property and toys (yachts, gulf streams, Lamborghini's, designer jewellery, paintings, artifacts ET AL). A humongous mansion as seen would probably be inhabited by a maximum of 4 residing family, this exclusive of their retinue of servants, bodyguards, drivers, cooks...sorry chefs, publicists ET AL. I hate to imagine the daily and basic running costs of this household; food, electricity, water... The boss and wife (or mistress) haven't received guests for a night long party, the household dogs haven't been taken to the local pedicurist and later on off to dog meal shopping that costs what an average hard working man in African earns in three years! The folks children, if there are any haven't been flown to the most

expensive and most private learning institutions whose roll calls at assembly answers to the who is who in society... the house...sorry mansion hasn't gone through its daily cleaning routine.... list is endless. And day in day out these folk go out to their offices and claim to work hard to make their lives better...and back home to the good life...

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD ......

and living on $0.08333333333, (and this is not a myth or a lie..it the whole truth) is a family of 9 people, father, mother, children, that will 'tuck' and haggle together in their mud hut that's seen its better days a needs URGENT repairs, but priorities don't allow for such luxuries, as I will explain later. They will be lucky to have a meal of probably porridge if they are lucky or go hungry altogether if mom and dad didn't have a good day. Sleeping on rumbling stomachs is quite the order of the day so your not expected to whine about how there is no food on the table. Oh yeah priorities: these are folk who have to choose between either sleeping hungry or spending $0.1666666 ( still less than a dollar mind you) on a sick child at the local clinic that's probably 30 - 50 kms away...we haven't talked about the transport costs to and fro! these are folk who have to choose between either paying for a child's education or purchasing roofing material for their hut! these are folk who will not remember the last time they had chicken for Christmas, a 'delicacy' some of us feed the dogs daily! These are folk who would rather spare half of the corn stock of the last four days for the manufacture of the local brew that will be sold, for meagre pence a cup, that have mum go 80 - 120 km away to attend to urgent reproductive health related issues that include contraception, maternal child care and health or basic vaccination for her children....

These are the harsh realities of life which we sometimes forget. So I thought it wise to remind you that you ought to thank God and be diligent with what the Almighty has provided for you and always remember in prayer and service to those who are going through a bad day as we say....that bad day you see them going through might just be their best, the worst yet to come. Be mindful of your neighbour, always...