Don’t be overwhelmed by what you see. Stay calm in the raging storm

Life has not been fair to many people. Sometimes, it is easy to imagine from a safe part of the world how people survive in war-torn, disaster- or disease-stricken areas of Africa.

We wake up to different news each morning. Economic reports warn that we may lose our investments. Political news discuss conspiracies, deals, xenophobia, and closed borders. Religious news highlight intolerance among religious groups. Suicide bombings, children dropping out of school, contaminated water, unhygienic sanitary practices, HIV, poverty, unemployment, wars, natural disasters, and more dominate the headlines. But amid all these challenges, we find joy in waking up to a new day. The sun shines brightly, bees buzz in her honor, flowers embrace her warmth and light, and people rise to their responsibilities. A bird sings melodiously from the rooftops. Can you hear it?

If you ever visit any African country, the scenery will amaze you. You will experience conflicting emotions. On one street, children happily play in the light rain; just around the corner, a hungry teenage mother begs for help. You may wonder how there can be so much joy amid so much pain.

Strange as it seems, Africa has all the resources to make the continent a haven. Yet, the leaders continue to mismanage those resources. We have the population, including some of the world’s youngest people. We have arable land, minerals, abundant sunshine, water bodies, and a large workforce. I hope things will improve. I believe in the growing call for justice and quality education for all. A solution is coming, and it may not be far away. Let’s watch the sunrise. Good morning from West Africa.