I saw these words in action this morning when the bus pulled up to the Bindi Art School. I desperately wish that I could truly describe what I saw in front of me. I watched in awe as men and women sat at small desks and mats on the floor. Right before my eyes, these people were living their dreams. One by one, each student put their lives on canvas. In the heart of this leprosy colony, were India's best artists. Despite their disease, they were painting. Leprosy has left these people with awful sores, mangled hands and feet, and sometimes missing limbs.
I continued to watch each artist paint. Each one had their own style and I could pinpoint which of the hundreds of paintings they had done. I couldn't believe that their mangled hands, which have little if any feeling, were able to create something so beautiful. At one point I was able to sit with a man while he explained one of his paintings to me. He literally explained his fears, goals, and dreams on this small and simple sheet of canvas.
It is truly a blessing that those who are leprosy afflicted are able to support their families by doing something they love. The money raised from each of these masterpieces is put into one pool that is given to the artists equally and supports the rest of the colony as well.
If I learned anything today, it is that everyone has a story. All you have to do is listen. I'm grateful for the chance I've had to listen. I can't tell you enough how many people I have met here that the world has overlooked. The world will never understand that they didn't just shun the leprosy affected. They have shunned artists, enginners, doctors, mothers, fathers, teachers, and the most humble people I have ever met. I hope that after my experience here, I will be able to remember how important people's stories are. My job is to listen.
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