THE OBSERVER - His Eye is on the Sparrow - an excerpt
Page 253 - 256
"I feel overwhelmed, Aarav," I say as I look around me at the dreadful slum conditions.
"I'm not surprised, Karen. I told you in Canada that this cultural shock may be too much for you. Do you want to return to your apartment?"
I want to say yes, please get me out of here, but down deep within my soul, I hear my grandmother, Karina say, "What you are seeking is seeking you."
I look into Aarav's eyes and say, "I am here for a reason, Aarav. I'm in. This is where I need to be."
"That's my girl!" he exclaims. Then taking my arm, he says, "Come with me."
We walk through the massive slum, past many people, primarily women and children I notice. "You work here, Aarav?"
"I do, Karen. And it is here I will work with you if you feel strong enough to be here."
Immediately, I'm remembering an old Sunday School verse that I had been forced long ago to memorize. "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. The Lord is my strength and my song."
"I am strong enough, Aarav," I reply. And I am.
After a short walk, along a rough, uneven pathway, we arrive at a small, neat, wooden building. Aarav opens the door. With him, I walk inside. I see a bare, scrubbed clean wooden floor; three wooden, clean but cluttered desks; and some file cabinets.
"I told you, Karen, that I have my degree in accounting."
"Yes, you did. But why are you mentioning this to me now, Aarav?"
"It's important that you know and understand me, Karen. Here in the Braden Project I work, not only with those in the western world who fundraise to keep this project alive, but also directly with the people here. It's here that I'm given the opportunity to use my gift of healing. I spend time with the people. They come here to this office and I speak with them and do my best to understand all that they are trying to deal with. I come here three days a week. For this work, I receive no salary."
"If you receive no salary, how do you live? How do you support yourself and pay for such a lovely apartment?"
"For the other four days a week, Karen, I work as accountant for my father's law firm. I also work for other business firms as accountant; keeping their books and for this work I'm well remunerated."
"Where do I fit in, Aarav?" I ask.
"Karen, if you feel strong enough to come to this slum five days a week, to work in this office as secretary, but more importantly, as a friend and advisor to the people who reside here, you will receive a secretary's salary; enough to support you in your small Bangalore apartment."
"I see," I say.
"Do you want some time to think it over, Karen?"
"Will you be here to work with me Aarav?"
"Yes, I'll be here but for only three days a week. My work here is volunteer. You will need to be here five days a week which means two days a week you are on your own. There are other volunteers and employees in this slum area but what I mean to say is that for two days a week you will be here on your own in this office. Are you up for it?"
"I hope I am, Aarav. I want to be and there is only one way to find out."
THE OBSERVER - His Eye is on the Sparrow is available in Kindle and Paperback formats on all Amazon sites. You will find it on my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin
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