Like Rain

Exquisite courtesy

That you should see me

Immeasurable grace

For you to believe

That I, the faceless child of darkness

Could enter into hallowed halls of love,

Could touch and find no shame in touching

Could hope, and find hope not in vain

A peace beyond my understanding

Has fallen on my head like gentle rain

- Unknown

Bergamot - The Scent of Childhood

No weekend was complete without getting your hair did. From all-backs to woven thread, you simply could not resume a school week without a head of fresh glistening patterns. My mother knew how to make hair, my aunt knew how to make hair, our house-help knew how to make hair. So there was simply no excuse. This ritual began with setting up the space, the joko, the cutting comb and then the 'cream' the favoured one in my house was the blue cream.

It wasn't till I got grown, got into essential oils that I found out that the scent which made my weekends complete was Bergamot. I still like it and the memories are good.

Bergamot is an oil gotten from Bergamot Orange which is cultivated in parts of Italy and Turkey (heard Columbus took it from the Canary Islands to Italy). It is used in perfumes, tea, sweets and, you guessed it, hair products. Why? it soothes the scalp, aids hair growth and makes hair extra shiny.

Bergamot also helps to relieve anxiety and depressed moods. So, why not pick up a bit of this. Though it's hard to find this blue hair cream anymore, the scent of my childhood will always live with me and in the form of my little bottle of bergamot oil.

The Challenge

I had already planned and written it down to put this post up today. so, I was quite happy that this landed into my 'lap' this morning to make reference to. The question is, at what point is it ok to be racist just as long as you are fighting for women rights

Equality and Gender.

These are questions I'm beginning to ask myself whenever the subject arises. What do people mean by equality. Quite frankly I do not know. There's only one sense of 'Equality' I do recognize, it's that every human life has an intrinsic priceless value because they are all created by The Creator. Coming from that angle has so many implications, but I won't go into that now. 

However, how can we expect to have equal numbers of men and women everywhere? On the other hand, some argue that gender is not important. If it weren't what are we fighting for? Why are people involved in complex operations to switch their bodies? Why will it matter if there are 6 people who look like men and 2 who look like women on a conference panel?, if this was of no consequence.

Sexism

Under this is usually the fight against Patriarchy. I am not a fan of those who put blames on systems of things. What are systems made of?, they are made of people, and until those people are changed, you will not have a changed system. So I don't think patriarchy is the issue, I am certain that people are the issue.

Feminism 

I have found no need whatsoever to identify myself in this way, because 1. some things being fought for are things that a decent human being should fight for, 2. There is such a thing as responsibility. Let us take rape for example, many talk about victim-shaming etc, I understand the issues. However it is necessary to take precautions wherever you can, e.g not getting drunk and out of mind, it's only too easy for anyone to take advantage. This is why we lock our doors at night.

Now with all of these concepts, they are all fundamental flawed. As a Christian, you know, that's the way I see the world, there's a dire problem of sin. This will corrupt every single venture we go into, that's why we can have racist feminists. Why? because sin is not a thing you do, it's your make up being born into this world. So it doesn't matter what way you were born, you need to be born again. 

III - The Prayer and The Promise

Grant, gracious Savior, we pray, perspectives as seen from your throne.

Our world and our deep, wicked way, we cherished and not left alone.

Between the glad grief of the cross, and cosmic renewal to come.

To servce you afresh at all cost, to sing now, eternity's song.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have troubles but take heart! I have overcome the world"

II - The Savior

The vision we need to transcend this cyclical pattern of wrong looks back in the history of men, forward to time's setting sun.

To gaze at Golgotha provides unshakable vantage of view.

Creator of time in it's tides, the judge standing under review.

The incarnate lover, alone, bright glory enshrouded in grey.

Perfection that wills to atone and grace by rejection repaid.

Yet forward our gaze is drawn.

Spectacular vistas are spread, the living One whom we once slew now speaks, and his voice wakes the dead. And him we thought false, we perceive to be lifted, the Faithful and True.

The crucified now stands as judge, his justice no man can gainsay, and only his death can expuge the multiplied sins of our way.

The earth and it's heav'n cannot stand before his pure unshaded light, but these are remade by his hand, evoking unbounded delight.

The dark shades are no longer seen, and untainted purity reigns, and gracing the whole is a stream of unbroken, unrestrained praise.

- Author Unknown

I - Mankind

The hurts of a grim wary world, the greed of an all-selfish race.

The barbs filled with malice and hurled by men void of vision and grace.

The children who die without food, still others, ripped out from the womb.

Cheap culture defended as good near ghettoes of filth, rat and gloom.

Armed missiles with power to melt the shiny new toys that we buy, the alien fear that is felt by people too guilty to die.

The endless, vain idols of men, the worship of fleeting applause.

The dollar, the deutsche mark, the yen as bases of wisdom and laws.

Religion that pampers to self, and cares not a whit for the damned.

The elderly put on the shelf, and the truth manufactured and canned.

O Christ! These are ugly, deep stains and festering sores. 

This decay conspires to call forth refrains of defeat, gross self-pity, delay.

Responses by men seem so frail, freighted with motives quite mixed.

Situations of promise soon fail, the cries of Cassandra now fixed.

In memories that once thought she lied prompt fear and despair in the few.

But new generations, untried, can scoff at her warnings anew.

We'll build a new world, they proclaim and new despots come to the throne.

The wearisome cycle again. the new god is yesterday's clone.

- Author unknown

The Power of Forgiveness.

There's a certain magic about stories. Some just never leave you for your lifetime. As a Christian no story comes close to the story of God's love as communicated through the bible however there are a number of human stories that leave you completely floored. There is one of such stories I don't think I'll ever forget. It is one of hurt, betrayal and forgiveness.

A friend told me this story. We had been having a discussion of married life and to be honest, it still frightens me but I thought I had my mind made up on certain things. 'If he cheats?' I was asked. ''There's no way I could...'' I replied.

They had been married for 13yrs. They loved each other and seemed to have a very happy life, until he started to see another woman. What started out as random chats evolved into a full blown affair. The children began to get a whiff of what was happening upstairs and one day, she decided to call for a separation. He didn't want this due to an image crisis but she was adamant. 

After being separated for a year. He broke off all the outside relationships he had and went to beg her. After 3 excruciating years they got back together. They've been married 35yrs now, and the pain of his cheating though dulled is a reminder of the grace and forgiveness they have experienced. Not long after they got back together those years ago, my friend was born. 

It blew me away, this person standing before me, telling me this story would not have even been existing if someone decided forgiveness was out of the question. It convicted me, when Jesus says we should love, this is what it's about. God help us!

JOY!

image from http://www.thelovelymosaic.com

Today is Easter Sunday and what can I say but JOY to the World because Jesus Christ lives! He rose up that day, many many years ago and continues to be our truest expression of mercy, grace and love.

These past few months have been an exercise  in learning what it means to be joyful. I have had a taste of it and can only get better. It all started with cultivating an attitude for gratitude inspired by Paul and the Philippians. Paul was in 'chains', yet he said in Phil 4 

" I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him, Jesus Christ, who gives me strength."

I think this is just amazing. Our joy which comes through contentment isn't about being satisfied with the situation we are in, rather it is about being satisfied in God, in Jesus who gives us the strength and reason to be joyful! Nehemiah 8:10 becomes more real "The Joy of the Lord is my Strength" 

The book of Philippians is such a book of light. Paul employs us many times to rejoice (joy, re-joy), to be grateful, to be thankful because of who/what we have in Christ! This attitude has really helped me and people have even noticed a change in me. Every time I want to complain, which solves nothing, my mind switches to something to be thankful for. I don't always get it right, but I'm so glad and grateful I'm on the right path.

Make a choice to rejoice today :)

True Story: The Soap Opera (II)

I was going to write a long story continuing from part one of this saga True Story: The Soap Opera (I) but so much has changed in me, which I can only thank God for. (if you have specific questions, ask away)

A Summary 

 S and M got married in November last year and just before the wedding, I sent an email to M we hadn't been in touch since April of the year. I wanted to just let it all go from my head. I hoped that M was marrying S for better reasons than being 'available' and even if so, hope that it grows into something better than that. 

 

2014

I thought I was leaving it all behind in 2013, but this year M starts to endorse me on Linkedin, trying to call me, which I ignored. S eventually sent me an email last month, which I decided not to read, I forwarded the email to a friend who I thought would have an objective view on things, and she told me I made a good decision not to read the email. I don't need to rehash any events, what is done is done. I have forgiven and I hope they forgive, because starting a marriage with guilt and insecurity is certainly a terrible burden to bear.

Lessons Learnt and Moving on.

I had to examine myself to understand what really went wrong. Above all, I know that I can trust God that whatever happened,( happens) is for our own good and I see that clearly.

1. I've been saved from having a relationship with someone who wanted to eat as many cakes as possible while having it.

2. I've had to repent from attitudes like A. People regretting if they let me go B. Feeling resentful when people get married C. People from different spheres of my life knowing each other etc

3. I've had to learn to speak up where there are wrongs, or I feel wrongs happening. I shouldn't wait for people to change, they most likely wouldn't. Don't cover up wrongs or make an excuse for them.

4. I've learned to love 'enemies' my hard feelings are fading away faster than I can imagine. Will I become friends with them? I don't think so, S and M have terrible track records, and I'm very picky with friendships. You can still love without being friends. 

5. There's so much to look forward to, no need to keep looking back

6. I learned to trust God much more, and the joy of knowing what the most important relationship in my life is. I thank God so much for the knowledge of Christ.

Cheers to living on the edge with Christ keeping us through and through!!

You have Everything

The first advice I've gotten this year from my Uncle, the most unconventional pastor, no he doesn't have a ministry' is.

"Stop looking for 'things', Peace, Joy, Happiness etc..God doesn't give 'things'. God gave Christ and what is greater than Christ?"

If you have Christ, you have everything you need because there is nothing greater, logical. I was watching Cool Runnings yesterday and the coach said something connected to this because 'things' no matter how wonderful will never be enough for us.

Irv: [telling Derice why he cheated] It's a fair question. It's quite simple, really. I had to win. You see, Derice, I had made winning my whole life, and when you make winning your whole life, you have to keep on winning, no matter what. Understand?
Derice Bannock: No, I don't understand. You won two gold medals. You had it all.
Irv: Derice, a gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you're not enough without it, you'll never be enough with it. 

Happy New Year

Welcome to 2014.

May love guide and keep us.
May grace strength our hearts
May they comfort us through the highs and the lows.

Best wishes.