Nenda na Mungu

Waiting to depart for the airport: This is a story I have told dozens of times over the years, mostly for the benefit of people preparing to travel to far-off places where they will be without the conveniences of home, and perhaps into situations where they may find themselves totally dependent on the kindness of strangers. Today I tell it for my benefit.

Twenty years ago, I heard Gordon Browne (who died this past year) give a plenary address to New England YM, on the occasion of his retirement after many years of service as the executive secretary of FWCC / Section of the Americas. In that position, he would from time to time travel to visit Friends in out-of-the-way places, like the Alto Plano of Peru and Bolivia. He observed that when he was preparing for such a journey, his Anglo friends would invariably say to him, “Gordon, be careful.” But his Latino friends would say, “Gordon, vaya con Dios” -- “Go with God”.

Perhaps we can generalize to say that those with much to lose think in terms of being careful, while those with less to lose know from whence their protection comes. Or, to quote Friend Bill Kreidler, “Protection comes from God; security is from the devil.” Traveling can involve giving up some of our security; but in turn we may gain that experience of protection. May it be so.

So, vaya con Dios. Or, rendered into Swahili: Nenda na Mungu.