AN UNUSUAL DAY

Arsene throws his briefcase on the small living-room table and slips onto a sofa while exhaling deeply. He worked at the office all day on a program for the transformation of Zenitha. At the head of a team of three members, he must, following extensive consultations, produce a plan for the prosperity and well-being of the island. After more than eight hours of labor, Arsene no longer vibrates with his customary energy. His vague gaze signals his concerns.

Minerva understands. Her husband has been exerting himself since five o'clock, as usual. He observes a morning ritual: prayer, reading, meditation, inspirational music, and physical exercises. All this precedes a nourishing breakfast consisting mainly of fruits and cereals. Time matters to Arsene. He leaves the house early to reach the office before eight o'clock. He always says: "Small habits prepare the character for great challenges and victories." And also, "The change in Zenitha begins with myself."

"Goodbye sweetheart," Arsene whispered as he kissed Minerva affectionately that morning. As a reed under the effect of the breeze, he stooped to reach his wife's lips, while she enjoyed her tall and slender stature. At 45, he had accumulated enough experience to get a warm smile from her from time to time.

Arsene radiates an enduring optimism. Generally, he sparkles with energy and joy, but that morning clouded his mood. He looked apprehensive. Zenitha has given him so much; how can he, in turn, contribute to its transformation? His national development program tickled his mind. He saw the program as a unique opportunity to make an impact.

As he made his way to his car, his phone rang. A frightened voice at the end of the line sobbed "Arsene, they have kidnapped my husband." He immediately recognized the voice of Palerma, his cousin who had married a wealthy businessman. The kidnappers gave the family three days to deliver a ransom of two million US dollars. Otherwise, they threatened, they would execute Angelus, a resourceful man overflowing with energy.

Arsene stammered as he sought words of comfort that could alleviate Palerma's anger and pain. He concluded the conversation as quickly as possible, remembering his obligations of the day.

He shared the news with Minerva and left. That morning he listened to the news, which he usually avoided at that hour of the day. He often said that too many journalists indulge in negative aspects, and alarm their listeners. For him, the prevailing culture of cynicism erodes serenity.

As Arsene turned on his radio, the journalist was reading the breaking news titles, some more horrible than others. Arsene felt as if he was suffering from an avalanche of hail falling on his head and splashing on the screen of his thoughts.

Usually, he took time to observe the spread of the mountain range in the distance, finding inspiration in the way their tops touched the horizon. Although showing their baldness made by the effect of erosion, they retained their majesty. And their skin of stone seemed to defy the Zenithians; "You have eliminated my green hair to satisfy your needs and desires, but I am the mountain. Unshakable. Invincible."

He remembered the proverb: "Higher mountains rise behind the high mountains." He applied this lesson of topography to life. Success breeds success. Or the conquest of a challenge prepares us for greater challenges.

That morning witnessed such a different mood within him. Arsene plunged into a daze as the breaking news headlines fell thick and stunning.

• "Abduction of wealthy businessman Angelus Belte. The kidnappers threaten to take action."

• "A bus ran at breakneck speed into a traditional "Rara" street band at a turn of the national road. Result: 20 dead and 35 wounded including nine in serious condition."

• "The supreme chief of Zenitha justifies the disappearance of $35 million dollars, boasts of his high social extraction, and attacks his opponents, calling them morons and robbers."

• "Floods in Luna City: hundreds of houses damaged."

• "Six people murdered yesterday including two policemen, a doctor and a mathematics teacher who was returning from the bank."

• "Two women and a man accused of sorcery lynched by the population at Pointe du Sable."

• "Judge Andre Tresor responds to the accusations of corruption by claiming that his education and social status confer on him rights and privileges."

• "Trouble in the Church of the Righteous. Pastor Orguelus blows his own trumpet about his knowledge, insists that he is the only one able to understand the norms of the church and to decide everything, and that he does not tolerate any questioning of his authority or else excommunication will ensue."

• "Thirty-five percent of the population is facing food insecurity, according to the observatory on misery and poverty."

Arsene could not take it any longer. He turned off the radio and plunged into a deep reflection. He thought of the horror Angelus was facing. He reminisced on himself sitting with the businessman last weekend. At that time, Arsene attentively had listened to Angelus' plans for funding a project on education and health care for the destitute.

Arsene could not linger in his thoughts. At first, the slow traffic at that time of the day caught him by surprise. He wondered whether an accident or the deplorable condition of the roads had caused the slowdown. Then the traffic ground to a standstill with his car alongside a pile of garbage. Pigs were already rummaging through the rubbish that was shedding a pungent odor. This smell added to that of the smoke exhaling from the fire the residents had lit.

To add to Arsene's discomfort, an old car, right in front of his, was releasing a black smoke that further darkened his sight and inconvenienced his breathing.

At the next crossroads, his itinerary rid him of the black smoke nuisance, as he turned left while the old car went straight. However, another unpleasant surprise awaited him. He checked the time. Lateness confirmed. To go faster, he took a shortcut. As he hurried, a public transport vehicle tried to avoid a ditch and came face-to-face with his car. He did not have time to make a maneuver to prevent a traffic jam.

Already enduring a thousand and one inconveniences, he had to face the caustic anger of the other driver. This man blamed him for not yielding, and imputed to him all the ills of Zenitha. His blood was boiling. A desire to inflict a correction on the impudent squeezed his throat, but he kept his composure.

He arrived at the office very late, but just in time for an important meeting on the Zenitha development project.

"Hello Arsene", said Cliff, smiling as Arsene walked into the meeting room.

"Hi dear Friend", continued Jeanty. "You do not look in good shape. This is not like you."

Arsene did not like to talk about his personal issues, but this time he made an exception. He told them of his disappointments as he was fighting emotional agitation; he strove to take courage, to remain faithful to his philosophy of life.

Cliff showed a different personality. He would look for ulterior motive in a child's greeting. He would usually simmer in cynicism and pursue a negative approach. He jumped at the opportunity to embark on a diatribe on the circumstances in Zenitha.

Voluble, he voices a string of evils that afflicts the country. For example:

• "Insecurity and insalubrity serve as political instruments, means to control the population and tricks to hold on to power."

• "This country is not going anywhere."

• "Everyone does as he pleases on this island."

• "No one cares about their neighbor."

• "Ignorance, mediocrity and obscurantism have upgraded to the status of values."

• "Police officers perhaps colluded."

Jeanty usually sought the sun beyond the clouds. He showed balance and did his best to shine some light. In response to Arsene's setback, he expressed sympathy and hope. He said: "Angelus will get out of it, and Zenitha will be better off. This is the reason for our project and efforts."

Arsene, still under the shock, drew some slight relief from Jeanty's words. He thanked his colleagues and began the meeting. The agenda concerned the best approach to produce an effective plan. Cliff advanced the idea of an office plan designed on models that had already proven themselves. Once completed, the document would be submitted to the social partners for comments and contributions.

Arsene and Jeanty took a different position. They argued that the plan belonged to the people. Therefore the people should be consulted from inception to ascertain their preferences, priorities, preferred methods of participation, and vision of execution and sustainability.

They backed up their argument on the premise that motivation and public participation are essential to the success and protection of the project. Otherwise, the population might not feel concerned if the results faced a threat or an attack.

An intense debate ensued. Cliff insisted on the science of the experts. The masses could not know what they wanted, especially since illiteracy reigned supreme. The medication should be administered to the patient, regardless of her opinion.

Hours of discussion did not lead to consensus because the members of the group entrenched their positions behind their beliefs. In the end, Arsene adjourned the session with the hope for more progress next time.

Back in his office, Arsene felt tortured. The mishaps of the day weighed on him. His mind lingered on the meeting. He wanted to move forward as fast as possible, but in consensus. Choosing the opinion of experts above everything else stands out like the light attracting moths, but will exert a negative impact on the integration of the program into the social and cultural fabric of the population.

What about the sustainability of the results or the participation of the population in the implementation process? Everything in him rebelled against Cliff's approach.

Arsene did not realize that time was flying. The rain had been pouring. He resolved to go home despite the risks of avalanche.

After a slow, laborious, tedious journey, complicated by downpours and alluvial deposits on the road, he has reached home at last. This evening brings mixed feelings with a dominant somber mood. His appetite abandons him, he who usually savors his dinner with a gourmet delight. The affection of the graceful and beautiful Minerva cannot pierce the breastplate of sadness, disgust and fatigue that covers him.

He wants to spend time alone. Not for melancholy brooding -- his habit forbids it. Not to grumble – the foolproof optimist in him would rise up. Not by preference for solitude – he deeply loves Minerva's company.

He ardently desires to entrust the agitation of his heart to his computer because he does not want to discharge his pain into the mind of someone else. His thoughtfulness prohibits it. The Zenitha he experienced during the day confronts the image he has always tried to cherish. He refuses to accept this state of affairs as the destiny of his land. Nor can he deny the mishaps he experienced. He composes a lament over Zenitha.

LAMENT OVER ZENITHA


How did you get there, Zenitha?
You, the jewel, had inspired so many dreams.
You, the courageous, defied all servitude.
Your determination and generosity amazed everyone.
How could you plunge so low from your heights?
You fought and won victory.
From your wares you satisfied the world.
Freedom lovers acknowledged and praised your feat.
You faced everything with confidence.
Liberty was your banner, equality your standard, and fraternity your
treasure.

How did you get there, Zenitha?
From the sweat of your forehead, you fertilized the soil.
Hard work made your prosperity and happiness.
Your vision enriched the minds of your sons with excellence.
Why has darkness invaded your territory?
You know the value of learning,
Why has ignorance extended so many venomous tentacles?
You have broken the chains of bondage,
How have you become the prey of misery and despair?
Are not these new chains a threat to your existence?

How did you get there, Zenitha?
Tell me about the vision of your shepherds.
How will better shepherds emerge?
Why has hubris taken over, while fear and mistrust dictate their law?
Why can't the shepherds galvanize your sons and daughters?
Why such bulimia that enriches henchmen and dispenses doubtful
contracts?
Why are education and health care lacking or vegetating in mediocrity?
Why do leeches suck your blood dry to provide elusive energy?
Why do wolves kill and devour so easily and with impunity?
O Zenitha, does it not behoove the shepherds to prosper the flock?

How did you get there, Zenitha?
Your streets serve as landfill and your parks fall into ruin so quickly.
Verdure, vigilance and maintenance have become rare.
Your well-built dwellings have given way to makeshift shacks.
Have you forgotten that carelessness and inattention invite disaster?
Your farms sigh after new knowledge or languish in abandonment.
Your daughters and your sons desert you, even at the risk of their lives.
Love to you now seems better lived out away from you.
Is the culture of love and fraternity on your shores not the secret of progress?
O Zenitha, when will love and opportunities abound within your gates?

How did you get there, Zenitha?
Your children like to curse you. Daily.
Lamentations and jeremiads abound, while they boast of loving you
carnally.
They spread bad vibes over their neighbor, their leaders, the environment.
When alarming news does not surface, they swell crazy rumors.
If a rare lull lasts too long, the time comes to invent some social terror.
A ghost kidnaps people during the night or Master Midnight scares away.
When will your inhabitants shed full light upon your beauty?
And promote your marvels, exquisiteness and exceptionality?
Is valuing extant assets no longer the road to progress?

How did you get there, Zenitha?
See your children suffer from impunity and laissez-faire.
See the fellow man take no risk to defend the victim.
Hear the crackle of the senseless fire that destroys the costly public work.
Turn a deaf ear to the appeals of the poor in search of jobs and opportunities.
Endure the suffocating odor of burnt flesh and the miasma of neglect and
idleness.
Pinch your nose in the face of insalubrity and political and social
decomposition.
When will your politicians unite, rise and reach out to their enemies?
When will your entrepreneurs get a pat on the shoulder for spreading
opportunities?
Will this not be the taste of peace, well-being and well-understood pride?

When will you break your cultural chains to embrace hope, Zenitha?
The refreshing shade of work and prosperity will cover you.
When are the end of chaos and the frenzy of destruction?
What about the inspiration of order and the beauty of an organized life?
Why not replace mistrust and fear with faith and hope?
Trust, unity and truth give you the key that will free your steps.
Will you forever hide your ignorance and pretend that you know all things?
Humility, goodness and a passion for learning will light your way.
When will you refrain from beliefs that haunt your children?
Mental emancipation will redefine your circumstances,
And will transform you.

Love as a radiant sun will drive away your darkness, Zenitha.
Love will work miracles in your midst and restore courage to your children.
Love will inspire them to live for each other, and help each other.
Love will lay a sweet hand on you and clothe you with beauty and brilliance.
Love will come through: the brother will value, educate and protect his
brother.
Love will banish violence, exploitation and all prejudice.
Love will free your genius. Your talents will no longer be lost in the night
of indifference.

Love will bring back excellence. The world will look again for what comes
from you.
Love will elevate you. Fortune, peace and happiness will come naturally
to you.
Love will heal you. Only love will restore you to your altitude, Zenitha.

Do you not know that the solution to your problems is hidden in your
heart, Zenitha?
Or is it not available to you from somewhere in the world?
When the world needed you, it used your teachers and your possessions.
They spread light, and the son of the stranger illuminated his path.
The alms of the nations will submit your heart to dependence and
distract you.
Seek and obtain light and knowledge from the nations.
Receive and integrate into your bosom all bearers of light and knowledge.
These goods will transform your heart and it will become a source of living
water.
From it will spring your solutions, for it will point you to the path of
lasting progress.
Open up and learn from the world. Turn to the sun of knowledge, Zenitha.

If you rekindle the passion for good and freedom at the base of your
existence, Zenitha!
If you sigh after knowledge, prosperity and happiness,
If your heart marries the way of service and clothe itself with excellence,
If your curiosity always puts you in search of the good,
If you dream of justice, peace and non-violence, in all circumstances,
If even in the middle of the slush you appreciate the whiteness of the water
lily,
If from the depths of darkness you refuse to take your eyes off the stars,
If you see the glory of God in the eyes of the other, especially when he is
in danger,
If you are passionate about the music of sharing and the gift of self,
Then, will the zephyr of success not lift you up and carry you to your
dream, Zenitha!