The nearest, so far, that I have come to seeing a co-herant explanation has been in connection to an American Footballer - Colin Kaepererick who sat on the bench during the playing of the National Anthem as a protest. He later changed this to just going down on one knee (?). And since then it seems to have slowly adapted to a general symbol of 'protest'. Kaepererick himself explained himself by saying "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppressesd black people and people of colour". I am not sure if this covers every or any colour; I mean even white is a colour!
ANYWAY, it seems that giving this 'image' speaks mainly of 'PROTEST' - possibly 'allegience' to a cause - in the current use 'Black Lives Matter' in particular.In the old days of my youth ( and in this I rather sympathise with Dominic Raab ) one might have only associated such action to proposing to the love of your life, or showing allegiance to the Head of State. It has now had to be commonised to include mass civil demonstrations, often accompanied with rioteous behaviour causing social insecurity.
What is wrong with our World? There are so many serious matters that disturb mankind, and so many problems affecting civilisation in general. YET the one that crops up the most - in every nation and tribe, is human discrimination. It is commonly noticed under the word RACIALISM, but in fact it begins with our human cacpacity to individually peck and pick, and to bite and devour each other in critisism and judgment. It is a universal and common fault in Men and Women - in MANKIND as a whole. We find it hard if not impossible to love one another as we love ourselves; that includes those of our own nationality, tribe or clan, AND those of another religion, political persuasion or colour. It takes little to set one individual against another in their private opinion, if not in physical conduct. SO WHY make it worse by finding those likeminded to accuse the rest? For example Black lives Matter! Yes they do, and it is true as a colour they have been abused and often marginalised. They DO matter, and OUGHT to matter EQUALLY with those of any other colour - including, by implaccation, the 'superior', most blind and self-righteous Whites. And let's face it not ALL blacks get on with each other, or value each other equally - YES, and not all whites speak well of other whit communities, or see them equally without critisism or prreference. THERE ARE GLARING WRONGS, but they will not be put right by bitter, resentful, and often hate filled, civil (even 'peaceful') action that stirrs up even more disquiet and critisism. The FLESH (the human selfish desire for justicie) is almost always without true Righteousness or Loving kindness. It is often more egotistical and unforgiving.
SURELY, if we all just concerned ourlselves with judging ourselves, individually, and apologising to one another for our wrongs done to one another, day by day, TRUSTING in each other's forgiveness, THEN we might truly learn to be kinder to one another. After all we ARE all sinners; we ALL do wrong. We all make mistakes in our life and living from birth until death. THUS Jesus teaches us to pray to GOD, our Father in Heaven - 'Foregive us our trespasses (against your law of love) as we forgive them that traspass against us. Matthew 6v12 .
The harbouring of gievences and wrongs done to us only blocks the way for us to love those who trespass against us; and our unforgiving heart will seek only vengeance. And, remaining in such a state can only set us up for further damage. And so the more, regretfully, when this is found in those who have been taught the Christian Way of life as it pleases God. For knowing the WILL of God they ignore it and act against it. Created in the 'Likeness of God', we should all take care that we do not seem wiser than He IS, and and, if we say we believe in Christ our Teacher, we should take added care to be found leaning to OUR OWN wisdom and understanding find and ourselves busy destroying our selves and each other. We should take time to read and study the words of the New Testament of the Bible, in the Book of Hebrews12 v14-15 -
'Strive to live in peace with everybody, and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will ever see the LORD. Exerecise forsight, and be on the watch to look after one another, to see that no one fall back from, and fails to secure God's grace, His unmerited (undeserved) favour and spirsitual blessing, and in order that no root of resentment, rancour, bitterness, or hatred, shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and many become contaminated and defiled by it.'I was born in 1940, and lived through that war to see the British people suffer fear and privation as the their young men and women faught to protect the freedoms of England's friends in Europe, and their own from jubjugation and dictatorship. Many faught with them. At home those left to hold homes and families together, became as one big family, all reaching out to each other, conscious of each others needs and heart aches, in ways that broke down all social and other barriers regardless of education, ethnicity, or beliefs. We were ONE nation. Not perfect, but united.
Eighty yeares have gone by and I am 80, and Covid 19 Rules the world, and all nations are suddenly threathened with the possibility of extrinction on many fronts. We now all need each other's good will and understanding. We all need to pull together regardless of differences of ANY kind.
BUT will we, can we, achieve it. I believe it IS possible. It is possible if your heart wants it. God has been good to me, and given me a glimpse of how it can be. I wrote about it in my Blog of June 27th this year. MY testimony! The testimony of a White British Citizen, brought up in England and educated in its History, and Politics, and happy that I did so. I am proud of my Country and of its Flag. I am one of those who always stood up to sing the National Anthemn at the end of a film at the Cinema, or drama in the Theature (as a mark of respect and allegiance the Queen who has been Head of State since I was twelve years old. I regard the heros and heroines that have gone before me - not counting their faults and failings for such are all of us. I stood for Queen and Country and in some way still do so, though for me has come a moment I have had to Look still higher to finally bow the knee and bow my head in submission, for now I have seen THE KING, the Lord of Hosts, Master of the Inuniverse and the Creator of the Earth we stand upon, and each one of us that walks and lives upon it. I must honour where it is due down here, for God has even admonished me to do so, but my final fealty is to God in Heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord. HE is the Prince of Peace. HE is LOVE itself. HE is full of mercy, and loving kindness, and it is his desire that I should be like HIM. So though we all walk yet again in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil - for HE is with me. COVID 19 should be pulling us all together, and nearer to God. Can we now in 2020 find ourselves suddenly desiring it - before there are none of left? THEN it is time we stopping shouting at each other. We all stand condemned, but we can still help each other to survive
I Thank God for His Patience with me, and I thank God for my history - for it has been a learning process, and is still going on now in a very different world to the one I was born into, and a very different location. My wife and I still live among a crowd of black and brown Kenyans, Africans all from different tribes and backgrounds. I am English, She is Kikuyu. We have two of our owns sons. Both have married Kenyan girls from different tribes. Our Daughter has married an Indian. We see that living here has broken down tribe and colour barriers. They do not exist. If here in our tiny little enclave in East Africa, why not in the whole of Kenya, the rest of Africa, the World?
YES Black Lives Matter! It is essentially true that this is understood and acted upon.
BUT Brown, Olive, Yellow, Pink and White lives ALSO MATTER. and it is important that this is even MORE understood. We MATTER - all of us all together - none more, or LESS than the other.
LET US SEE people laying down their flailing, threathening arms; let us cease to hear, any more, the loud, uncharitable chants, slogans, and primitive vocabulary of those interested in nothing but their own notoriety. There is nothing truly beautiful or humanly attractive in it. Nothing commendable. Nothing Hopeful. I cannot approve it. It is not of God, and is not His Way.
A WEEK has again gone speedily, and we are all remaining well, Thank God. But, of course we are still all at a standstill, as it were. The School still closed and empty of life. Our teachers still away, unpaid and unemployed, and finding life more than challenging. We are still supposed to remain on campus with our children, no one in or out except for special needs. The Weather still rather uncheerful with lots of rain, cloudy skies and cold temperatures. But we all have found ourselves in high spirits and happiness all together. It is the end of the month, and we all wait upon the Lord to bring us safely through into the month of August - our special month.
Part of the Testimony Family - still growing together more and more.
C.19 figures have been going up, and there has been a kind of hype of anxiety everywhere - though to my mind nothing has in fact changed. Here at the figures as they were late on 24th July.
Total Cases Confirmed Total Recoveries Deaths
16643 7446 274
Number are still increasing day by day, and we are now waiting to see it we peak in August as predicted. If not then we will all have to think again. There was to be a further report on Monday next week, but it has been delayed. It is expected that if numbers do not abate then further
Lock Downs can be expected. We look to God keep us safe and fearless.
We have you all in our hearts as we pray, and we believe the Lord our God will hear our prayers and watch over your all. With our Love and Thankfulness for your continued care of us in His Name, and on His behalf.
John Esther, and Daryl Green, and all with us in Testimony Faith Homes, Kenya
No comments:
Post a Comment