When I lived in the States, I dreaded being late. If you’ve ever been late, you know exactly what I’m talking about when I mention a certain sinking feeling deep in your stomach that generally accompanies you when you arrive to an event that is already underway. Being late to school, late to work, or even being late to a social event can be a stressful experience. For me, however, the worst by far was arriving late to church. There is generally no reprimand for arriving late to church, but that’s because you don’t really need one to feel guilty. The stares you feel as you take your seat in the third pew from the front (because of course the only free space in the entire church is on the third pew from the front) speak louder than any reprimand that a teacher or boss could give. I so disliked being late for church that I vaguely remember one Sunday that I drove to church, then turned around and drove home because I was already so late. Even though I had only missed 15 minutes of the service, I didn’t feel like facing up to the shame of being late would be worth participating is the next hour of so of the service that remained.
Here in Brazil, people have a slightly different view of time. Did you show up on time for a meeting? You are among the very first people to be there. Did you show up 5 to 10 minutes late? You are arriving around the time the majority of the other people are arriving. You are also just in time for the meeting to start. Did you show up as much as 20 minutes late? Sure the meeting has already started, but it’s no big deal. Did you show up almost an hour late, and there’s only a few minutes left in the meeting? Well, it’s certainly better that you made it for the end rather than not showing up at all. The idea of missing all of an event because you are so late for it that it might not be worth walking in is absurd. The “better late than never” mentality rings loud and true within the borders of Brazil.
It is here, within the borders of Brazil, than I find myself typing my first blog post after more than a year of being in the country. Sure, my plan was to write the first post the night before I departed back in late 2007. Sure, my new plan was to write my first post almost as soon as I arrived. Sure, my even newer plan was to write my first post as soon as I got internet in my apartment (more than a month later). Sure…okay, I’ll spare you the last year of procrastination, and I’ll spare you the excuses as well. All I’ll say is that this is my first post, and it won’t be my last. I remember regretting dearly my decision to skip church that day just because I was 15 minutes late. And I’m sure I would regret dearly never sharing any stories or reflections just because I haven’t started until now. Why miss out forever on a good opportunity just because you think you waited too long?