Not so admirable admiration

Admiration for character and achievement doesn’t necessarily breed improvement in the admirer. It is sometimes used as a cop out, as in “Wow, I admire that, but I could never do that.” I said it myself after I read Greg Mortenson’s book “Three Cups of Tea.” Of course I could never go to Pakistan, climb mountains, drink rancid goat milk, and open schools! I just didn’t have the youth, the stamina, the courage, the unselfishness. The list went on an on. I just accepted I was not in that league and rather unconsciously, I think now, thought that just my awe of the man put me a notch higher on the scale of “goodness.” I never sent him one slim dime. After all, I gave at church.

Paul Farmer, the founder of Partners In Health, is besieged by admirers. Before Haiti was hurled into the world’s consciousness with the earthquake, he was there in the poorest nation of the western hemisphere. Before he even attended medical school at Harvard, he was there helping the poor and sick. In the years since, he has tackled poverty, HIV/Aids, tuberculosis, and natal health. He has challenged organizations and governments to do more and has dealt gently with small children in Peru and prisoners in Russia

How does Farmer respond to this admiration? This is what he says.

“I didn’t say you should do what I do; I just said these things should be done.” It’s a challenge cloaked in kindness.