Mummy Dearest
Not being a parent yet myself, I can’t say I know what it is like to be a parent, but I do know that almost every time I see or speak to my mother on the telephone I feel her unconditional and absolute love for me. Ever attentive, ever concerned, ever caring. Ever ending each telephone conversation with those three little words: I love you.
To be honest, I have always taken that love for granted - and even those three words for granted. Of course she loves me: I am her daughter, for goodness sake! But now more than ever I do realize that, as odd as this may sound, she does not have to love me – many women I know have estranged relationships with their mothers. Fact is though, even though she does not have to, even though we see each other only two to three times a year, her priority is always to let her children know the depth of the love that she has for them.
We remain her priority – our hopes, our dreams, our health. I am thankful to God for her, and I am craving to reciprocate and appreciate her love even more.
Stretching the borders of life
At quiet time this afternoon I thought how often I worry, fret and go off on a tangent with God when I am concerned about whatsoever. I then I realized that the reason that I go off on a tangent is because, frankly speaking, I don’t trust God enough to deliver on His fatherhood responsibilities, for if I did, I am not sure I would fret as much as I do sometimes.
Then I remembered my mother’s love and tried to perceive God’s love for me within this context. I determined that I had to totally trust and obey Him.
People with their minds set on You, You keep completely whole, Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don't quit. Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing. Isaiah 26 verses 3 and 4
Sunday 26 August 2007
Tuesday 21 August 2007
Alchemy
The Alchemist
One of the books which has had a profound effect upon my life is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. If you ever needed motivation to pursue your dreams, The Alchemist is a sure read. I received the book as a gift on my 27th birthday. Ten years on, I am still raving about it. In fact, I must have read The Alchemist at least five times if not more, and have bought at least double that amount of extra copies for friends. It is such a totally, totally terrific read.
And no, Paulo Coelho is not paying me to write this…
Santiago
The hero of the book, Santiago, a poor shepherd boy, had a dream. No, I don’t mean a vision. I mean he slept and had a dream; and through emotional, spiritual, financial and physical drudgery, he pursued the actualisation of that dream.
And he did it with pure gusto.
He was adventurously expectant. Emptied himself of everything that was within him, and in the process, found life, found love, found many friendships, and found his treasure. He lived, to my mind, generously and abundantly.
‘‘I have come that they might know life, and know life more abundantly.’’
On trying to fast track abundance
A few years back, my neighbour’s domestic help came to greet me one Sunday morning. He joyously told me that he would be travelling to the UK. Very well, I thought. And what would you be doing, I enquired? Oh, he would be studying accountancy he informed. I enquired on how he had managed to obtain visa, funds to study et cetera.
Without any hesitation he told me that for the handsome fee of $2000, he had solicited the assistance of someone from the Army who had fraudulently obtained a visa for him by saying that he (i.e. the domestic help) was his (the Army officer) son.
He caught my attention now.
Where had he got the $2000 from, I asked? Oh, he borrowed it from his boss (my neighbour), he told me. Someone had come to make a payment to his boss whilst the boss had travelled, and he had used part of the funds to pay the Army officer. And yes, he had every intention to pay his boss back. All he needed was just someone to pay for his ticket to the UK, and he would work as well as study and repay his boss.
Out of sheer shock, I laughed so much that my stomach ached.
Back to Santiago
Santiago’s story in The Alchemist is really the story of our lives, if we allow God to work in us. His story is not that much different from that of Joseph, David or of St Paul for that matter. He lived, he experienced many ups and many downs, but he held on. He held on in faith and in reverence hope in his dream.
The thing that really blows my mind about that book is at the very end. By this time Santiago has travelled from his home in Spain to Tangiers and then to the Egyptian desert. Then he physically sees the object he dreamt about. Just as he was about to dig for his treasure, a couple of tourists jostle and mock him, questioning the right of a shepherd boy to be in amongst the tourist site of plenty.
The story of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel chapter 19 comes to mind as a parallel here. I think at this point it also helps to remember that Paulo Coelho is a deeply religious Catholic.
Santiago explains his mission to them and explains that he is about to contact his treasure. Sarcastically, one of them mocks him further. Telling him that he had also had a similar dream, but, unlike Santiago, he had not been as foolish as to pursue a dream dreamt over a hangover. Well, guess who missed their opportunity?
Needless to say, Santiago continued on his course and found his treasure and fortune. True to the very end.
Dictionary definitions
The dictionary definition of alchemy is the "medieval forerunner of chemistry, concerned particularly with attempts to convert common metals into gold". Whilst I think my former neighbour’s domestic help was attempting to turn metal into gold the impossible way, I feel that Santiago actually succeeded in doing so – and he did it the right way, the legitimate way and yes, he found his treasure. The road was the road less travelled, the road was long and hard, but it was also the road that led him to friendships, wisdom, his wife and his treasure.
But as for my neighbour's domestic help, if I know my former neighbour well, I am sure the minute he returned home from his travels, he got the police to arrest the domestic help.
Our charge
Our Saviour and our Lord has charged us live an abundant life. He has charged us to make the most of every situation, and He has charged us to add value to every situation we find ourselves in. How? Ecclesiastes 9 is a great read: Verses seven and eight tells us to seize life and to reverently relish life, make the most of each and every day of this gift of life. Dress festively every morning.
Festively adorn all that is you (your business, family, your career) with joy and gladness. That is true alchemy – choosing to turn the metals in our lives into bullion. The road less travelled.
Wisdom -the art of living skilfully in whatever actual conditions we find ourselves in.
One of the books which has had a profound effect upon my life is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. If you ever needed motivation to pursue your dreams, The Alchemist is a sure read. I received the book as a gift on my 27th birthday. Ten years on, I am still raving about it. In fact, I must have read The Alchemist at least five times if not more, and have bought at least double that amount of extra copies for friends. It is such a totally, totally terrific read.
And no, Paulo Coelho is not paying me to write this…
Santiago
The hero of the book, Santiago, a poor shepherd boy, had a dream. No, I don’t mean a vision. I mean he slept and had a dream; and through emotional, spiritual, financial and physical drudgery, he pursued the actualisation of that dream.
And he did it with pure gusto.
He was adventurously expectant. Emptied himself of everything that was within him, and in the process, found life, found love, found many friendships, and found his treasure. He lived, to my mind, generously and abundantly.
‘‘I have come that they might know life, and know life more abundantly.’’
On trying to fast track abundance
A few years back, my neighbour’s domestic help came to greet me one Sunday morning. He joyously told me that he would be travelling to the UK. Very well, I thought. And what would you be doing, I enquired? Oh, he would be studying accountancy he informed. I enquired on how he had managed to obtain visa, funds to study et cetera.
Without any hesitation he told me that for the handsome fee of $2000, he had solicited the assistance of someone from the Army who had fraudulently obtained a visa for him by saying that he (i.e. the domestic help) was his (the Army officer) son.
He caught my attention now.
Where had he got the $2000 from, I asked? Oh, he borrowed it from his boss (my neighbour), he told me. Someone had come to make a payment to his boss whilst the boss had travelled, and he had used part of the funds to pay the Army officer. And yes, he had every intention to pay his boss back. All he needed was just someone to pay for his ticket to the UK, and he would work as well as study and repay his boss.
Out of sheer shock, I laughed so much that my stomach ached.
Back to Santiago
Santiago’s story in The Alchemist is really the story of our lives, if we allow God to work in us. His story is not that much different from that of Joseph, David or of St Paul for that matter. He lived, he experienced many ups and many downs, but he held on. He held on in faith and in reverence hope in his dream.
The thing that really blows my mind about that book is at the very end. By this time Santiago has travelled from his home in Spain to Tangiers and then to the Egyptian desert. Then he physically sees the object he dreamt about. Just as he was about to dig for his treasure, a couple of tourists jostle and mock him, questioning the right of a shepherd boy to be in amongst the tourist site of plenty.
The story of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel chapter 19 comes to mind as a parallel here. I think at this point it also helps to remember that Paulo Coelho is a deeply religious Catholic.
Santiago explains his mission to them and explains that he is about to contact his treasure. Sarcastically, one of them mocks him further. Telling him that he had also had a similar dream, but, unlike Santiago, he had not been as foolish as to pursue a dream dreamt over a hangover. Well, guess who missed their opportunity?
Needless to say, Santiago continued on his course and found his treasure and fortune. True to the very end.
Dictionary definitions
The dictionary definition of alchemy is the "medieval forerunner of chemistry, concerned particularly with attempts to convert common metals into gold". Whilst I think my former neighbour’s domestic help was attempting to turn metal into gold the impossible way, I feel that Santiago actually succeeded in doing so – and he did it the right way, the legitimate way and yes, he found his treasure. The road was the road less travelled, the road was long and hard, but it was also the road that led him to friendships, wisdom, his wife and his treasure.
But as for my neighbour's domestic help, if I know my former neighbour well, I am sure the minute he returned home from his travels, he got the police to arrest the domestic help.
Our charge
Our Saviour and our Lord has charged us live an abundant life. He has charged us to make the most of every situation, and He has charged us to add value to every situation we find ourselves in. How? Ecclesiastes 9 is a great read: Verses seven and eight tells us to seize life and to reverently relish life, make the most of each and every day of this gift of life. Dress festively every morning.
Festively adorn all that is you (your business, family, your career) with joy and gladness. That is true alchemy – choosing to turn the metals in our lives into bullion. The road less travelled.
Wisdom -the art of living skilfully in whatever actual conditions we find ourselves in.
Monday 20 August 2007
Coincidences, God-incidences and The Water of Life
Psalm 105 verse 3 warns: Keep your eyes open for God, watch for His works; be alert for signs of His presence.
The Week that Was
These past couple of weeks have been somewhat special. In amongst many concerns that sought and fought for my attention, I felt The Almighty God nudging me to calm down, and reassuring me that He is with me.
The warming thing has been this: He consistently gave comfort even on the most minor issues, impressing on me that even on the seemingly trivial points, He makes room for us. It's been heart-warming.
Consider the ravens
Luke 12:23-25: Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life
On using water judiciously
I had guests last weekend from London and Lagos. Fun though it was, I had to remind the guest from London that here we use water judiciously. Go easy on wastage! They left on Tuesday. On Wednesday evening after work, I dash to the shower to refresh – it gets pretty hot here. At 30 degree’s centigrade, it’s winter.
The Gym comes to the rescue
Turned on the tap. No water. Okay, forget the shower. I had bottles of mineral water in the fridge. I would use those to at least wash my face. I would need to go to the gym tomorrow morning before work and have a shower there after my work out. That would mean waking up at around 4.30, have my quiet time and leave the house by 5.45 to get to the gym by 6am when it opens.
So, tired as I was from entertaining guests over the long weekend, I packed my gym bag and considered what to wear to work the next morning so that I could also pack the outfit into my gym bag.
Lunching and praying at home
Ordinarily two to three times a week, I go home for lunch - and to pray. The plan was to go home at lunch time, give the maid some money and instruct her to start looking for a water tanker – those of you who have lived in these parts will catch my drift. I then thought of what it would cost. Honestly, after spending on guests over the last couple of days, that was an unwelcome expenditure.
Well, I never made it home at lunchtime. Work was busy on Thursday so I was stuck in the office till well after 9pm.
My very efficient bank ATM
As I got ready to leave the office, I remembered my water issue. Oh dear. The plan was to go to the ATM near home, withdraw cash and give this to the maid the next day when she comes in, for the purchase of water, when I come for lunch. Tonight, I’d use my bottles of mineral water to freshen up again and leave for the gym at 5.45am the next day so I could have a proper shower.
Tired as I was in the midst of this, when I arrived at the ATM, it was closed. I committed to close my bank account with the bank.
I then had to drive some 15 to 20 minutes to town to another ATM. Tired and hungry as I drove to town, this phrase came to mind: ‘o ye of little faith. Just go home and you may well find that water situation restored’. In my mind, I responded: “God, you know I have faith in You. I just don’t have faith in the water company.”
I drive to town, withdraw money from another ATM and drive home – tired with a capital T.
I arrive home, I turn on my tap, water gushes out.
Trust in The Lord with all your heart.
The Week that Was
These past couple of weeks have been somewhat special. In amongst many concerns that sought and fought for my attention, I felt The Almighty God nudging me to calm down, and reassuring me that He is with me.
The warming thing has been this: He consistently gave comfort even on the most minor issues, impressing on me that even on the seemingly trivial points, He makes room for us. It's been heart-warming.
Consider the ravens
Luke 12:23-25: Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life
On using water judiciously
I had guests last weekend from London and Lagos. Fun though it was, I had to remind the guest from London that here we use water judiciously. Go easy on wastage! They left on Tuesday. On Wednesday evening after work, I dash to the shower to refresh – it gets pretty hot here. At 30 degree’s centigrade, it’s winter.
The Gym comes to the rescue
Turned on the tap. No water. Okay, forget the shower. I had bottles of mineral water in the fridge. I would use those to at least wash my face. I would need to go to the gym tomorrow morning before work and have a shower there after my work out. That would mean waking up at around 4.30, have my quiet time and leave the house by 5.45 to get to the gym by 6am when it opens.
So, tired as I was from entertaining guests over the long weekend, I packed my gym bag and considered what to wear to work the next morning so that I could also pack the outfit into my gym bag.
Lunching and praying at home
Ordinarily two to three times a week, I go home for lunch - and to pray. The plan was to go home at lunch time, give the maid some money and instruct her to start looking for a water tanker – those of you who have lived in these parts will catch my drift. I then thought of what it would cost. Honestly, after spending on guests over the last couple of days, that was an unwelcome expenditure.
Well, I never made it home at lunchtime. Work was busy on Thursday so I was stuck in the office till well after 9pm.
My very efficient bank ATM
As I got ready to leave the office, I remembered my water issue. Oh dear. The plan was to go to the ATM near home, withdraw cash and give this to the maid the next day when she comes in, for the purchase of water, when I come for lunch. Tonight, I’d use my bottles of mineral water to freshen up again and leave for the gym at 5.45am the next day so I could have a proper shower.
Tired as I was in the midst of this, when I arrived at the ATM, it was closed. I committed to close my bank account with the bank.
I then had to drive some 15 to 20 minutes to town to another ATM. Tired and hungry as I drove to town, this phrase came to mind: ‘o ye of little faith. Just go home and you may well find that water situation restored’. In my mind, I responded: “God, you know I have faith in You. I just don’t have faith in the water company.”
I drive to town, withdraw money from another ATM and drive home – tired with a capital T.
I arrive home, I turn on my tap, water gushes out.
Trust in The Lord with all your heart.
Sunday 12 August 2007
Discerning the Intimacy of God
Coincidences, God-incidences and Discerning the Intimacy of God
God is intimately present with us every second of our lives; and Psalm 105 verse 3 warns: Keep your eyes open for God, watch for His works; be alert for signs of His presence.
Coincidence and God-incidence number one
Two years ago a friend in the UK spent her vacation with me here in Accra. She needed a break, was suffering from serious UK-fatigue and wanted to relocate to Africa. We had planned the vacation activities with military precision.
My work life being the way it is, a few days to her arrival, I had to travel to Sierra Leone. I asked my friend not to cancel her trip. We arranged for her to stay in a hotel for a couple of days whilst I would be away, and I arranged for some friends to socialise with her whilst I was away.
At the hotel, one day over breakfast she had a chat with another guest. They both had the same profession, they discovered. Over the conversation the gentleman became impressed especially by her intellect, her understanding of their profession. They swapped business cards and kept in touch. Today, through their professional networking, they do business together and she has relocated to Africa.
Coincidence and God-incidence number two
Last night I visited a friend who had just returned from a short break in Europe. She bought me two gifts – a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful funky white cotton shirt, and a set a make-up brushes. Immediately I saw the latter, I laughed, and blurted out: “God has a sense of humor.” Why so? Well, try this.
Whilst in the UK myself some weeks back, I had purchased one of those foundation cum powder from Mac. The sales lady told me that I needed to purchase a make-up brush to go with the foundation/powder. The cost? 25 pounds. Haba! Twenty five pounds? Needless to say, I did not buy the make-up brush.
I came back to Accra and was wondering where on earth I was going to find a make-up brush, let alone one of good quality. Stressed out by the thought, I had already given up even before I started to shop for the brush.
And then last night, I received not one make-up brush, but a set of make-up brushes.
God know His Fatherhood responsibilities
To me, that was God whispering to me that He knows every single one of my needs, even those un-uttered, and as my Father, He is absolutely committed to meeting me at my point of need, day after day after day. This was particularly warming and reassuring, as the past seven days have seen my thought life pre-occupied with a particular need.
Coincidence and God-incidence number three
Two years ago a member of our church mentioned to me that God had impressed it upon her heart that a few of us should gather resources together and purchase a new car for our Pastor and his family. His car was very old and rickety and we could not have him driving it much longer, whilst we cruised in our high-brand saloons and 4WD’s. Besides, the Bible is very clear about the importance of, and the blessing that comes with, giving a Levite offering, a Prophet’s offering. This was to be a surprise to our Pastor and it was all very hush-hush.
We promptly embarked on the project with zeal. A dozen or so members were prayerfully consulted about the scheme and we set about the decision as to which car to purchase. Mid-way into the decision-making and gathering of the financial resources, our Pastor and his family had a car accident. No-one was hurt but the car was very badly damaged. It was clear that God had intimately confided in the friend when He prompted her that a few of us should get together and purchase a car for our Pastor. The rest is history. We purchased the car for our dear Pastor and duly handed it over to him and his family within three weeks of the accident occurring.
I know you by name
Last night’s make-up brush moment was yet another way of God reassuring me that He knows His Fatherhood responsibilities and He knows me by name. He will never leave me nor forsake me. My only conditionality is that I follow Him, trust Him and obey Him. Well, I am not sure that I always get any one of those fundamentals right, but then again, God is a forgiving God.
Praying for the purpose of God and occurrence of God-incidences
One of the prayers that I unreservedly pray on a daily basis is that the purposes of God be established in my life. I realise now more than ever what a powerful and intimate prayer that is. I realise that what I am doing is asking God to become an intimate part of my everyday life, to have His way in me. His Presence is always with us but we must ask for that Presence to go with us.
That’s what Moses did. He refused to leave Egypt without the presence of God, without the will of God (Exodus 33). ‘’If Your Presence doesn’t take lead here, call this trip off right now. How else will it be known that You’re with me in this, with me and Your people? Are You travelling with us or not? How else will we know that we’re special, I and Your people, amongst all other people on this planet Earth?’’ God’s response to this heartfelt retort of Moses? ‘’All right. Just as you say; this also I will do, for I know you well and you are special to me. I know you by name.’’
Once you reverently ask for His presence to go with you, you leave yourself open to be used by Him and in the most subtle and intimate ways. He makes you an instrument of His peace, His purpose, His mind.
God friendship is for God worshippers
As I sign off I am reminded of a verse in Psalm 20 which reads: ‘’God-friendship is for God-worshippers; they are the ones He confides in.’’ What a privilege to be a God-worshipper. Like Moses, we can all be identified as a friend of God, someone who God confides in, for God indeed knows all of us by name. Every hair on our head is numbered by Him – not counted, but numbered. And all it takes is reverent God worship.
God is intimately present with us every second of our lives; and Psalm 105 verse 3 warns: Keep your eyes open for God, watch for His works; be alert for signs of His presence.
Coincidence and God-incidence number one
Two years ago a friend in the UK spent her vacation with me here in Accra. She needed a break, was suffering from serious UK-fatigue and wanted to relocate to Africa. We had planned the vacation activities with military precision.
My work life being the way it is, a few days to her arrival, I had to travel to Sierra Leone. I asked my friend not to cancel her trip. We arranged for her to stay in a hotel for a couple of days whilst I would be away, and I arranged for some friends to socialise with her whilst I was away.
At the hotel, one day over breakfast she had a chat with another guest. They both had the same profession, they discovered. Over the conversation the gentleman became impressed especially by her intellect, her understanding of their profession. They swapped business cards and kept in touch. Today, through their professional networking, they do business together and she has relocated to Africa.
Coincidence and God-incidence number two
Last night I visited a friend who had just returned from a short break in Europe. She bought me two gifts – a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful funky white cotton shirt, and a set a make-up brushes. Immediately I saw the latter, I laughed, and blurted out: “God has a sense of humor.” Why so? Well, try this.
Whilst in the UK myself some weeks back, I had purchased one of those foundation cum powder from Mac. The sales lady told me that I needed to purchase a make-up brush to go with the foundation/powder. The cost? 25 pounds. Haba! Twenty five pounds? Needless to say, I did not buy the make-up brush.
I came back to Accra and was wondering where on earth I was going to find a make-up brush, let alone one of good quality. Stressed out by the thought, I had already given up even before I started to shop for the brush.
And then last night, I received not one make-up brush, but a set of make-up brushes.
God know His Fatherhood responsibilities
To me, that was God whispering to me that He knows every single one of my needs, even those un-uttered, and as my Father, He is absolutely committed to meeting me at my point of need, day after day after day. This was particularly warming and reassuring, as the past seven days have seen my thought life pre-occupied with a particular need.
Coincidence and God-incidence number three
Two years ago a member of our church mentioned to me that God had impressed it upon her heart that a few of us should gather resources together and purchase a new car for our Pastor and his family. His car was very old and rickety and we could not have him driving it much longer, whilst we cruised in our high-brand saloons and 4WD’s. Besides, the Bible is very clear about the importance of, and the blessing that comes with, giving a Levite offering, a Prophet’s offering. This was to be a surprise to our Pastor and it was all very hush-hush.
We promptly embarked on the project with zeal. A dozen or so members were prayerfully consulted about the scheme and we set about the decision as to which car to purchase. Mid-way into the decision-making and gathering of the financial resources, our Pastor and his family had a car accident. No-one was hurt but the car was very badly damaged. It was clear that God had intimately confided in the friend when He prompted her that a few of us should get together and purchase a car for our Pastor. The rest is history. We purchased the car for our dear Pastor and duly handed it over to him and his family within three weeks of the accident occurring.
I know you by name
Last night’s make-up brush moment was yet another way of God reassuring me that He knows His Fatherhood responsibilities and He knows me by name. He will never leave me nor forsake me. My only conditionality is that I follow Him, trust Him and obey Him. Well, I am not sure that I always get any one of those fundamentals right, but then again, God is a forgiving God.
Praying for the purpose of God and occurrence of God-incidences
One of the prayers that I unreservedly pray on a daily basis is that the purposes of God be established in my life. I realise now more than ever what a powerful and intimate prayer that is. I realise that what I am doing is asking God to become an intimate part of my everyday life, to have His way in me. His Presence is always with us but we must ask for that Presence to go with us.
That’s what Moses did. He refused to leave Egypt without the presence of God, without the will of God (Exodus 33). ‘’If Your Presence doesn’t take lead here, call this trip off right now. How else will it be known that You’re with me in this, with me and Your people? Are You travelling with us or not? How else will we know that we’re special, I and Your people, amongst all other people on this planet Earth?’’ God’s response to this heartfelt retort of Moses? ‘’All right. Just as you say; this also I will do, for I know you well and you are special to me. I know you by name.’’
Once you reverently ask for His presence to go with you, you leave yourself open to be used by Him and in the most subtle and intimate ways. He makes you an instrument of His peace, His purpose, His mind.
God friendship is for God worshippers
As I sign off I am reminded of a verse in Psalm 20 which reads: ‘’God-friendship is for God-worshippers; they are the ones He confides in.’’ What a privilege to be a God-worshipper. Like Moses, we can all be identified as a friend of God, someone who God confides in, for God indeed knows all of us by name. Every hair on our head is numbered by Him – not counted, but numbered. And all it takes is reverent God worship.
Tuesday 7 August 2007
You Bring Me Joy
An Unusual Quiet Time
An old song of Anita Baker's sprung to mind during quiet time this morning. Goodness, how could I? This is worship time.
Then I remembered the words of the song:
You bring me joy
When I'm down
So much joy
When I lose my way your love comes smiling on me
I saw your face
And then I knew
We would be friends
I was so afraid, but your arms, they'd say 'come to me'
So I say to you"Can we talk for a while?"
You said "alright"
I feel your hands and you feel mine
You bring me joy
You bring me joy
Don't go too far away
Cause you're the finest thing I've seen in all my life
You bring me joy
And then I understood why the song came to mind. I knew I was singing a worship song.
An old song of Anita Baker's sprung to mind during quiet time this morning. Goodness, how could I? This is worship time.
Then I remembered the words of the song:
You bring me joy
When I'm down
So much joy
When I lose my way your love comes smiling on me
I saw your face
And then I knew
We would be friends
I was so afraid, but your arms, they'd say 'come to me'
So I say to you"Can we talk for a while?"
You said "alright"
I feel your hands and you feel mine
You bring me joy
You bring me joy
Don't go too far away
Cause you're the finest thing I've seen in all my life
You bring me joy
And then I understood why the song came to mind. I knew I was singing a worship song.
Friday 3 August 2007
Social Change, Diversity and my Christian Faith
The Demerits of Technical Rationality
I just returned home from many a light bulb making moments of an MBA Summer School. Talk about enlightening. Talk about it.
Our Summer School instructor, the delightful Ms R, was, by all accounts enlightening. There she had twenty odd matured international students cum professionals, all richly knowledgeable and experienced in their field – and yet all wanted even more management education. But Ms R, astute as she is, threw the ball back to our court and introduced us to reflective and transformational learning.
Managing with a tolerance for ambuguity
Oh yes, she did. How so? Well, management education we came to learn, is about transformative learning, and that process, students cum international professionals, involves and requires reflection and not rational technicality. If you think you are consciously competent in the technicality of your discipline and profession, think again, think twice for that matter, for I am about to awaken you that your true calling as international managers is to manage with flexibility, manage with deep insight, manage with flexibility, and manage with a tolerance for ambiguity. For if you are to be successfully and efficiently manage your organization and hence people, it will take more than a few theories in management education. It will, fellow learners, take you thinking outside of the box, and realizing that your HR resources (and the art of developing your HR resources to realize their fullness personal and professional development) is the best hope for your organization’s future.
My lightbulb making day trip
So Ms R took us on a day trip. She did not disclose many details beforehand though. And, the technically rational international managers that we are, we were utterly frustrated by this. ‘What on earth could we learn just sitting listening to presentations all day?’.
So, we arrived at the site. An administrative office caring for the many living needs of the physically challenged in Sandwell. ‘God help us. What is Ms R up to?’ Well, some of us were to learn, she was up to awakening us to the very best of reflective and transformational learning.
So turn by turn the speakers spoke and presented. Inclusion, diversity, social change, inclusive citizenship was the theme. Social exclusion for any citizen regardless of their race, age, disability, creed was Zero Tolerance zone. So we met and listened to a presentation by the blind wheel chaired fifty something doctor (I forget which discipline his PhD is in) who had a family and had traveled worldwide on the academic and lecture circuits. We heard the 50 something HR manager who reminded us that the elderly, the transsexuals, the homosexuals, the ethnic minorities and the physically challenged have as much to offer in skills and abilities as anybody else and reminded us to be alert to this truth in our organisation’s HR practices.
And I began to be awakened to my own biases
How I have a preference for the heterosexual. How I have a preference for a certain kind of people, of a certain kind of age, from a certain kind of place. And I wandered how many potentially rewarding friendships I had missed out on because of my prejudices.
Vanity Fair and Bishop Desmond Tutu
The July edition of Vanity Fair magazine was a special edition on Africa, edited by Bono. Being mad about Africa, I purchased a copy. In an interview with Brad Pitt, Bishop Desmond Tutu said a few words. Here goes.
“I come from a situation where for a very long time people where discriminated against, made to suffer for something for something about which they could do nothing – their ethnicity. We were made to suffer because we were not white. Then, for a very long time in our church we didn’t ordain women, and we were penalizing a huge section of humanity for something about which they could do nothing about – their gender. And I’m glad that now the church has now changed all that. I’m glad that apartheid has ended. I could not for any part of me be able to keep quiet, because people were being penalized, ostrasized, treated as if they were less than human, because of something they could do nothing to change – their sexual orientation.
For me, I can’t imagine the Lord that I worship, this Jesus Christ, actually concurring with the persecution of a minority that is already being persecuted. The Jesus I worship is a Jesus who was forever on the side of those who were being clobbered, and he got into trouble precisely because of that. Our church, the Anglican Church, is experiencing a very, very serious crisis. It is all to do with human sexuality. I think God is weeping. He is weeping that we should be spending so much energy, time, resources on this subject at a time when the world is aching.''
Now, I don’t agree with Bishop Tutu on everything he said, but my newly developed diversity awareness kicked in.
Are we right in the Christian church to shun the homosexuals, the prostitute, the drug addict, the homeless who may meander into Sunday service - in all, the vulnerable?
No Christian church would probably admit that they do any of the above, but our self-righteousness and prejudices might very often turn the socially excluded away from The Liberty that they actually need in their every day lives.
And as if we ourselves do not toy with addiction of all kinds, whether that is sexual, power addiction and an addiction to our jobs and work to the detriment of all and who that we hold dear. Yes.
So, I wander where this leaves me. I am pro diversity, pro inclusion, and I am also pro Christ.
I believe in the power of His love – and I believe that He has placed skills, knowledge and abilities in all kinds of crafts in each and every one of us – regardless of our race, gender, age and sexual orientation. Would it be fair to say that we would only contact, the world would only benefit from, those skills, knowledge and abilities in all of humanity if we give diversity a chance?
Imagine a world without the outcomes that Martin Luther King Jnr fought for. Imagine a world without the outcomes that Emily Pankhurst and the Suffragettes fought for. Imagine a world without the outcomes that some such as William Wilberforce fought for. Imagine a world without the outcomes that the ANC and other freedom fighters such as the Aborigines fought for. And imagine a world without the outcomes that Zackie Achmat fought for?
Imagine.
Didn’t all these people all just seek to remind us that all are created equal? That no gender, no race, no economic class should live at the bereft of the other?
I just returned home from many a light bulb making moments of an MBA Summer School. Talk about enlightening. Talk about it.
Our Summer School instructor, the delightful Ms R, was, by all accounts enlightening. There she had twenty odd matured international students cum professionals, all richly knowledgeable and experienced in their field – and yet all wanted even more management education. But Ms R, astute as she is, threw the ball back to our court and introduced us to reflective and transformational learning.
Managing with a tolerance for ambuguity
Oh yes, she did. How so? Well, management education we came to learn, is about transformative learning, and that process, students cum international professionals, involves and requires reflection and not rational technicality. If you think you are consciously competent in the technicality of your discipline and profession, think again, think twice for that matter, for I am about to awaken you that your true calling as international managers is to manage with flexibility, manage with deep insight, manage with flexibility, and manage with a tolerance for ambiguity. For if you are to be successfully and efficiently manage your organization and hence people, it will take more than a few theories in management education. It will, fellow learners, take you thinking outside of the box, and realizing that your HR resources (and the art of developing your HR resources to realize their fullness personal and professional development) is the best hope for your organization’s future.
My lightbulb making day trip
So Ms R took us on a day trip. She did not disclose many details beforehand though. And, the technically rational international managers that we are, we were utterly frustrated by this. ‘What on earth could we learn just sitting listening to presentations all day?’.
So, we arrived at the site. An administrative office caring for the many living needs of the physically challenged in Sandwell. ‘God help us. What is Ms R up to?’ Well, some of us were to learn, she was up to awakening us to the very best of reflective and transformational learning.
So turn by turn the speakers spoke and presented. Inclusion, diversity, social change, inclusive citizenship was the theme. Social exclusion for any citizen regardless of their race, age, disability, creed was Zero Tolerance zone. So we met and listened to a presentation by the blind wheel chaired fifty something doctor (I forget which discipline his PhD is in) who had a family and had traveled worldwide on the academic and lecture circuits. We heard the 50 something HR manager who reminded us that the elderly, the transsexuals, the homosexuals, the ethnic minorities and the physically challenged have as much to offer in skills and abilities as anybody else and reminded us to be alert to this truth in our organisation’s HR practices.
And I began to be awakened to my own biases
How I have a preference for the heterosexual. How I have a preference for a certain kind of people, of a certain kind of age, from a certain kind of place. And I wandered how many potentially rewarding friendships I had missed out on because of my prejudices.
Vanity Fair and Bishop Desmond Tutu
The July edition of Vanity Fair magazine was a special edition on Africa, edited by Bono. Being mad about Africa, I purchased a copy. In an interview with Brad Pitt, Bishop Desmond Tutu said a few words. Here goes.
“I come from a situation where for a very long time people where discriminated against, made to suffer for something for something about which they could do nothing – their ethnicity. We were made to suffer because we were not white. Then, for a very long time in our church we didn’t ordain women, and we were penalizing a huge section of humanity for something about which they could do nothing about – their gender. And I’m glad that now the church has now changed all that. I’m glad that apartheid has ended. I could not for any part of me be able to keep quiet, because people were being penalized, ostrasized, treated as if they were less than human, because of something they could do nothing to change – their sexual orientation.
For me, I can’t imagine the Lord that I worship, this Jesus Christ, actually concurring with the persecution of a minority that is already being persecuted. The Jesus I worship is a Jesus who was forever on the side of those who were being clobbered, and he got into trouble precisely because of that. Our church, the Anglican Church, is experiencing a very, very serious crisis. It is all to do with human sexuality. I think God is weeping. He is weeping that we should be spending so much energy, time, resources on this subject at a time when the world is aching.''
Now, I don’t agree with Bishop Tutu on everything he said, but my newly developed diversity awareness kicked in.
Are we right in the Christian church to shun the homosexuals, the prostitute, the drug addict, the homeless who may meander into Sunday service - in all, the vulnerable?
No Christian church would probably admit that they do any of the above, but our self-righteousness and prejudices might very often turn the socially excluded away from The Liberty that they actually need in their every day lives.
And as if we ourselves do not toy with addiction of all kinds, whether that is sexual, power addiction and an addiction to our jobs and work to the detriment of all and who that we hold dear. Yes.
So, I wander where this leaves me. I am pro diversity, pro inclusion, and I am also pro Christ.
I believe in the power of His love – and I believe that He has placed skills, knowledge and abilities in all kinds of crafts in each and every one of us – regardless of our race, gender, age and sexual orientation. Would it be fair to say that we would only contact, the world would only benefit from, those skills, knowledge and abilities in all of humanity if we give diversity a chance?
Imagine a world without the outcomes that Martin Luther King Jnr fought for. Imagine a world without the outcomes that Emily Pankhurst and the Suffragettes fought for. Imagine a world without the outcomes that some such as William Wilberforce fought for. Imagine a world without the outcomes that the ANC and other freedom fighters such as the Aborigines fought for. And imagine a world without the outcomes that Zackie Achmat fought for?
Imagine.
Didn’t all these people all just seek to remind us that all are created equal? That no gender, no race, no economic class should live at the bereft of the other?
Wednesday 1 August 2007
Baba Mi
Today is the 10th annivesary of my father's passing. We liked to call him Baba mi.
Baba mi, we all miss you like crazy. I love you more each passing day. And with each passing day as I grow and mature in my own life and experiences, I become even more aware of the depth of the sacrifices you made for us all - and the breadth of the love you had for us all.
I remain forever grateful to God, and am very proud, to have known your fatherhood. Rest in peace always.
Baba mi, we all miss you like crazy. I love you more each passing day. And with each passing day as I grow and mature in my own life and experiences, I become even more aware of the depth of the sacrifices you made for us all - and the breadth of the love you had for us all.
I remain forever grateful to God, and am very proud, to have known your fatherhood. Rest in peace always.
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