Heartwork and Sidewalk Repairs
Strolling down the block this morning, I noticed a pipe sticking out of a freshly paved section of sidewalk.
About a decade ago, Sofia built a splendid new jogging and cycling path through the city center. It passed just meters from our apartment, and I walked on it most days, moving to and from my various activities. I immediately noticed a utilities access cap sticking about two inches above the pavers—right in the middle of the path. I was incredulous that the city would be so careless to let such an obvious hazard survive construction. “Why are these people so stupid?” I thought.
That small defect symbolized how so many things seem to go in Bulgaria. The path was built with good intentions to improve life, but could not avoid introducing another obstacle to trip people up. Don’t Bulgarians understand the value of a level surface? Couldn’t they foresee how this would lead to repeated injuries and embarrassment? I got a lot of mileage using this particular oversight to explain some of the difficulties we encounter living in Southeast Europe.
About two years ago, I noticed that the city trimmed the offending pipe and installed an access plate flush with the rest of the pavement. The path seemed complete and ready to be used as intended. Meanwhile, the protruding cap did not stop anyone from using it all these years; they just overlooked the obstacle or avoided it when necessary. I heard no other complaints. I may have been the only person who let it get under my skin.
Upon discovering the new repair, I realized it must have been planned from the beginning. Yes, the Bulgarians recognized the importance of level surfaces and anticipated potential injuries. What a surprise! (Irony intended).
“We can only accomplish what is possible with the resources we have in hand. No amount of dreaming changes that.”
So why did it take so long to fix? It must have been a question of resources. One lesson that has been driven home to me over and over is this: We can only accomplish what is possible with the resources we have in hand. No amount of dreaming changes that. All it does is cause frustration.
So, what does all of that have to do with today? When I saw the pipe sticking through the new pavement, my initial thought differed from last time: “They’ll be back later to finish the job.”
The story is one of patience rather than foolishness, planning instead of ignorance, and hope instead of despair. The Lord is not finished with me yet.
