NICK WRIGHT
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact

Poor

8/2/2023

20 Comments

 
Picture

'Come and live among the poor for a time, and realise what a struggle for existence really means.' (Dr. Selena Fox)

When I arrived at a Palestinian hospital to offer myself as a volunteer, the Director looked at me – this young man with long blond hair and a dangly, silver cross earring – with undisguised scepticism. Another volunteer, from Germany, offered to show me around. We sat together on a balcony with hot sun burning down and wasps buzzing around us, to give food to children with severe disabilities. I was just 22, yet I had a mysterious sense that this place, Bethany (literally 'house of the poor' (בֵּית-עַנְיָה)), a stone’s throw from Jerusalem, was where God wanted me to be. That night, I stayed on a dirty mattress on a classroom floor. The drains flooded and spewed raw sewage into the room.

As time passed by, I learned to jump back less when I pulled sheets out of a cupboard and saw and heard cockroaches fall and scatter all around my feet. I tried very hard to ignore (ugh!) the huge black spiders that slept in corners where the classroom walls joined the ceilings. I started to get used to the sporadic on-off electricity and water supplies. I began not to notice the stench of classrooms where incontinent children had laid on torn mattresses all day, and we had no soap or disinfectant to clean them. (It was the same mattresses on which we slept). I learned to mask my disappointment when we got to the end of a hard-working day, only to discover that no food had been delivered.

When air force jets flew over at low altitude, creating a loud and unnerving sonic boom, even that became part of daily life. I no longer threw myself onto the floor with my hands over my head as the doors and windows rattled. I struggled when I heard nurses tell stories of how they had been treated by military patrols. I was horrified when I met a 17 year old girl hiding in the kitchen because she had been seen talking to a man in the street who wasn’t a relative. Her own family was hunting her down to kill her – to restore their “honour”. I felt mortified when nurses stepped over and ignored a man with cerebral palsy who had fallen out of his wheelchair in the corridor, “because he’s a Syrian”.

I was sometimes shocked by well-meaning nurses’ lack of basic training, such as when they gave out random, out-of-date medication (usually donated with labels in English that they couldn’t read) because, “medicines help people”. Yet, deep down, I admired these amazing people, working so hard in such harsh conditions. Most welcomed and accepted me as a foreigner, no matter how cross-culturally naïve and painfully out of my depth I was. I always remember that remarkable volunteer who put me to shame by his amazing love and example. I will never forget the nurses who crowded into a sherut when I left, clinging to me and crying unashamedly as I fought back my own tears.
20 Comments
Liz Williams
8/2/2023 01:48:59 pm

Hey Nick. Bethany. That's where Lararus and his sisters lived in Bible times, right?

Reply
Nick Wright
8/2/2023 01:53:17 pm

Hi Liz. Yes, indeed. I've always been drawn, for some reason, to the mysterious conversations and events described in John chapter 11 in the Bible. It was only recently that it clicked that where those amazing things happened was where I was working!

Reply
Anna Johnson
8/2/2023 01:55:43 pm

Thanks Nick for sharing this story and opening our eyes to the realities of the poor. You were brave to go there at that age. Weren't you scared?

Reply
Nick Wright
8/2/2023 02:00:18 pm

Hi Anna. You're welcome. To be honest, I didn't feel brave or feel a need to be brave at the time. Perhaps (as Canadian rock band, Rush says) 'innocence gave me confidence to go up against reality.' The whole experience was moving, humbling, inspiring and harrowing in so many different ways. The big difference for me was that I was in effect a visitor. I could return home when I wanted or needed to. The Palestinian people working there didn't have that option.

Reply
Mark Rolfe
8/2/2023 02:02:54 pm

Thanks for giving us a no frills glimpse of a different side of life, Nick. It's a far cry from the safe and comfortable world I live in.

Reply
Nick Wright
8/2/2023 02:06:13 pm

Thanks Mark. It was certainly an eye-opening and heart-wrenching experience for me too. It was the first time I had been in that kind of situation and it took me quite a few years to get over it. The resilience and resourcefulness of the local people who persevere in such situations is truly remarkable.

Reply
Dave Edwards
8/2/2023 02:10:35 pm

I clicked on the 'volunteer' link, Nick. Ottmar sounds like a very unusual person. I'm not surprised you were so impacted by him. He sounds like Mother Teresa. He has challenged me to challenge myself more.

Reply
Nick Wright
8/2/2023 02:13:10 pm

Hi Dave. Yes, Ottmar had an extraordinary presence and approach. I still feel impacted by him all these years later. On Mother Teresa, this short reflective piece may resonate?

https://www.nick-wright.com/blog/something-beautiful

Reply
Enid Wright
8/2/2023 02:15:03 pm

No wonder we were worried about you while you were out there!

Reply
Nick Wright
8/2/2023 02:16:01 pm

Hi Mam. 😃😊🤐

Reply
Steve Franklin
8/2/2023 03:23:43 pm

I'm intrigued, Nick. What were you doing there? Are you a doctor or a nurse?

Reply
Nick Wright
8/2/2023 03:26:28 pm

Hi Steve. Good question. I hitch-hiked across Europe, having just completed a 12-month community development project in the UK. I presented myself simply as a volunteer, to do whatever was needed at the hospital. My work involved support and care for children with physical disabilities and informal teaching of English for Arab nurses. It was a real privilege to be there!

Reply
Steve Franklin
8/2/2023 03:28:28 pm

Now I'm even more intrigued! That's a long way to hitch-hike. Why did you leave? You must have had a strong conviction to go there.

Nick Wright
8/2/2023 03:32:17 pm

Hi Steve. That's another good question. I was sick for the whole time that I worked at the hospital, possibly as a consequence of the insanitary conditions we were working in. I lost so much weight that I became very weak and all my clothes were falling off me. It felt heart breaking to have to leave and return to the UK.

By God's amazing grace, the money I had left in my bank account (£187.56) was exactly the same amount as I needed for the air fare home.

Danielle Eastwood
8/2/2023 07:40:57 pm

Respect to you, Nick, for being so honest about your reactions. I wonder what they would write about you if they were to write a blog now!

Reply
Nick Wright
8/2/2023 07:45:35 pm

Thank you, Danielle - and what a great thought experiment. I’d be fascinated to see what they would write, if of course they could even still remember me after all these years!

I was interviewed recently on how I’d hope to be remembered. Here’s a glimpse, in case of interest: https://www.nick-wright.com/eulogy.html

Reply
Danielle Eastwood
8/2/2023 09:53:55 pm

Judging by their tears Nick, it sounds like you had quite an impact in their lives. 🙏

Nick Wright
8/2/2023 09:55:54 pm

I hope so, Danielle, in a positive way. They certainly had a big impact on mine.

Alex
8/2/2023 11:09:10 pm

Thanks Nick
Raw, humbling, challenging.
What an experience and what life long lessons!!

Reply
Nick Wright
9/2/2023 07:27:55 am

Thank you, Alex. And yes - indeed!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    ​Nick Wright

    ​I'm a psychological coach, trainer and OD consultant. Curious to discover how can I help you? ​Get in touch!

    Picture
    Like what you read? Simply enter your email address below to receive regular blog updates!
    Subscribe to Blog
    Picture
    Picture


    ​Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    Categories

    All
    Abc
    Ability
    Accountability
    Achievement
    Act
    Action
    Action Learning
    Activism
    Adaptability
    Adaptive
    Advent
    Adventure
    Africa
    Agency
    Agile
    Ambiguity
    Angle
    Anticipation
    Anxiety
    Appraisal
    Appreciation
    Appreciative
    Appreciative Inquiry
    Approach
    Argyris
    Asia
    Assumption
    Assumptions
    Asylum
    Attachment
    Attention
    Attitude
    Audience
    Authenticity
    Authority
    Autonomy
    Avoidance
    Awareness
    Behaviour
    Being
    Belief
    Beliefs
    Bias
    Bible
    Body Language
    Boundaries
    Brainstorming
    Brand
    Calling
    Care
    Career
    Censorship
    Challenge
    Change
    Character
    Charity
    Child
    Choice
    Choose
    Christ
    Christian
    Christmas
    Clarity
    Client
    Climate
    Coach
    Coaching
    Coactive
    Cognition
    Cognitive
    Cognitive Behavioural
    Commitment
    Communication
    Community
    Compassion
    Competence
    Competencies
    Complexity
    Concepts
    Confidence
    Conflict
    Confluence
    Congruence
    Consciousness
    Construct
    Constructs
    Construe
    Consultancy
    Contact
    Content
    Context
    Contracting
    Contribution
    Control
    Conversation
    Corruption
    Counselling
    Counterintiution
    Counterintuition
    Countertransference
    Courage
    Craziness
    Creativity
    Credibility
    Crisis
    Critical Consciousness
    Critical Reflection
    Critical Reflective Practice
    Critical Reflexivity
    Critical Thinking
    Critique
    Cross
    Cross Culture
    Cross-culture
    Culture
    Curiosity
    Customer Care
    Customers
    Customer Service
    Death
    Deception
    Decision
    Deconstruction
    Defence
    Defences
    Deferred Gratification
    Definition
    Delusion
    Democracy
    Depression
    Determination
    Development
    Deviance
    Deviant
    Diagnosis
    Disaster
    Discernment
    Disclosure
    Discovery
    Discrimination
    Disruptive
    Dissent
    Dissident
    Dissonance
    Distinctiveness
    Distortion
    Diversity
    Dream
    Dynamic
    Dynamics
    Easter
    Ecology
    Edge
    Edi
    Education
    Effectiveness
    Efficiency
    Ego State
    Eliciting
    Emergence
    Emotion
    Emotional
    Emotional Intelligence
    Empathy
    Empowerment
    Encouragement
    Energy
    Engagement
    Environment
    Equality
    Eternity
    Ethics
    Ethiopia
    Evaluation
    Evidence
    Evocative
    Existential
    Existentialism
    Expectation
    Expectations
    Experience
    Experiment
    Experimentation
    Exploration
    Explore
    Exposure
    Facilitation
    Faith
    Fear
    Feedback
    Feeling
    Feminism
    Figure
    Filter
    Fit
    Flashback
    Focus
    Forgiveness
    Framework
    Freedom
    Freud
    Fun
    Future
    Gender
    Geopolitical
    Geopolitics
    Gestalt
    Global
    Goal
    Goals
    God
    Gospel
    Grace
    Grief
    Grit
    Ground
    Group
    Guidance
    Healing
    Health
    Hear
    Heidegger
    Hero
    Hope
    Human
    Human Givens
    Humanity
    Human Resources
    Human Rights
    Humility
    Humour
    Hybrid
    Hypotheses
    Hypothesis
    Icon
    Ideation
    Identity
    Image
    Imagination
    Impact
    Impostor
    Inclusion
    Independence
    Influence
    INGO
    Initiative
    Injustice
    Innovation
    Inquiry
    Insecurity
    Insight
    Inspiration
    Instinct
    Integrity
    Intention
    Interdependence
    Interference
    International
    Interpretation
    Intimacy
    Introversion
    Intuition
    Invisible
    Jargon
    Jesus
    Journey
    Jungle
    Justice
    Keys
    Knowing
    Knowledge
    Labels
    Language
    Lateral Thinking
    Leader
    Leadership
    Learner
    Learning
    Lesson
    Liberal
    Life
    Light
    Listening
    Logic
    Loss
    Love
    Management
    Manager
    Marathon
    Matrix
    Mbti
    Meaning
    Media
    Mediation
    Meetings
    Memory
    Mentoring
    Merit
    Metaphor
    Metaphysic
    Mindfulness
    Miracle
    Mirroring
    Misfit
    Mission
    Mode
    Morality
    Motivation
    Mystery
    Narrative
    Nazis
    Need
    Negotiation
    Neo-Nazi
    Networking
    News
    New Year
    Norm
    Norms
    Noticing
    Online
    Operations
    Opportunity
    Oppression
    Organisation
    Organisation Develoment
    Organisation Development
    Origin
    Pace
    Panic
    Paradigm
    Paradox
    Partnership
    Passion
    Pastoral
    Pattern Matching
    Peace
    People
    Perception
    Perfectionism
    Performance
    Perseverance
    Personal Constructs
    Personal Leadership
    Person Centred
    Perspective
    Phenomenology
    Phenomenon
    Philippines
    Philosophy
    Physicality
    Plan
    Plans
    Plato
    Play
    Plot
    Polarity
    Policy
    Politics
    Poor
    Positive
    Positive Psychology
    Posture
    Potential
    Potential#
    Poverty
    Power
    Practice
    Pragmatism
    Praxis
    Prayer
    Preference
    Preferences
    Prepare
    Presence
    Principles
    Priorities
    Priority
    Privilege
    Proactivity
    Problem Solving
    Process
    Professional
    Progressive
    Projection
    Projects
    Prompt
    Propaganda
    Protection
    Protest
    Providence
    Provocative
    Psychoanalysis
    Psychodynamic
    Psychodynamics
    Psychology
    Psychometrics
    Psychotherapy
    Purpose
    Quality
    Questions
    Race
    Radical
    Rational
    Rationale
    Rationalisation
    Rationality
    Reality
    Reason
    Reasoning
    Reconciliation
    Recruitment
    Reflect
    Reflection
    Reflective Practice
    Reflexivity
    Reframing
    Refugee
    Refugees
    Relationship
    Relationships
    Release
    Religion
    Representation
    Rescue
    Research
    Resilience
    Resonance
    Resourcefulness
    Respect
    Responsibility
    Responsive
    Responsiveness
    Revelation
    Reward
    Rights
    Risk
    Role
    Role Model
    Rosabeth Moss-kanter
    Rules
    Sabbath
    Satire
    Satnav
    Saviour
    Schemata
    School
    Science
    Secure Base
    Security
    See
    Selection
    Selective Attention
    Self
    Sense Making
    Senses
    Sensitivity
    Serendipity
    Servant
    Shadow
    Significance
    Silence
    Simplicity
    Sin
    Skills
    Snake
    Social Construct
    Social Construction
    Social Constructionism
    Social Media
    Social Psychology
    Socrates
    Solution Focused
    Solutions
    Solutions Focus
    Solutions-focus
    Space
    Speed
    Spirit
    Spiritual
    Spirituality
    Stance
    Stealth
    Stereotype
    Stereotypes
    Story
    Strategic
    Strategy
    Strengths
    Stress
    Stretch
    Structure
    Struggle
    Stuck
    Style
    Subconscious
    Subjectivity
    Success
    Suffering
    Supervision
    Support
    Survival
    Sustainability
    Symbol
    Symbolism
    Systems
    Systems Thinking
    TA
    Tactical
    Tactics
    Talent
    Teacher
    Teaching
    Team
    Teamwork
    Teenage
    Theology
    Theory
    Therapy
    Thinking
    Thought
    Time
    Touch
    Toys
    Traction
    Trade
    Tradition
    Training
    Transactional Analysis
    Transference
    Transformation
    Transition
    Transitional Object
    Trauma
    Trust
    Truth
    Uncertainty
    Unexpected
    Vallues
    Value
    Valued
    Values
    Violence
    Visibility
    Vision
    Voice
    VUCA
    Vulnerability
    Vulnerable
    Waiting
    War
    Wealth
    Weird
    Wellbeing
    Will
    Willingness
    Window
    Wisdom
    Wonder
    Words
    World
    Worth
    Youth
    Zoom

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact