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#
Introduction: Just sharing a few thoughts and
remembrances after a very recent visit to my former homeland,
this incredible, vibrant and diverse country at the tip of the
vast ("dark") continent of Africa, which may be of interest.
This piece that I wrote is based upon an inspiring address by
former Archbishop, Desmond Tutu.
LOOK AT SOUTH AFRICA - CELEBRATE THE BELOVED COUNTRY (UPDATED)
Authors Note:
It is ten years since the first democratic elections, so we can celebrate a decade of the birth of a new country, where in spite of an endemic crime rate most people accept each other and work together as common citizens of the "beloved country". Well, I'm always looking at some positive aspects and this is my reason for sharing this piece about my former (yet always in my heart) country!
In the light of current world events and global uncertainty, I
say: "Look at South Africa"...
Thousands of people died over the years of South Africa's
turbulent, history (and under the "nightmare" called apartheid -
forgotten already ???)...which has ended relatively peacefully.
Out of a violent and bloody past, South Africa's extraordinary
relatively peaceful transition to democracy was a minor
miracle...
and I believe, South Africans have accomplished something unprecented, unparalleled in the last eight years.
Perhaps there is a message in South Africa's violent and
tortuous path to democracy somewhere to the "trouble spots of the
world"... perhaps there was a reason for the misery and tragedy
of apartheid (as well as many centuries of colonialism around
the globe), after all...
A possible role-model?
In spite of the corruption, crime and "cheapness of life there,
South Africa may be the "trail-blazer", the beacon of
magnanimity, hope and reconciliation to the world. With strong
leadership, a spirit of goodwill, tolerance, acceptance ...and
most importantly, attempts to understand other peoples and
cultures, who are different to us (yet we humans have far more
in common than our differences)...and especially with the SPIRIT
of peace, your nightmare too will end. An end to the evil of
terrorism, man's inhumanity to man and the "impossibility" of
world peace CAN one day be achieved.
Let the world celebrate the quite magnificent achievement South
Africans of ALL races and creeds, "The Rainbow People of God"
have accomplished in the past decade. With your "torch of light"
you may yet illuminate the path to a world one day at peace with
itself. CELEBRATE THE "BELOVED COUNTRY" - a land of such
contrasts, a "happy, sad" land of great wealth and great poverty,
yet the beauty and richness of the land ...and most importantly
its most valuable resource, the spirit of its 45 million diverse
peoples always seems to shine through in conquering adversity.
"South Africa's ability to overcome deep divisions,
to negotiate a common future and to commit itself
to reconciliation and reconstruction offers new hope -
not only to South Africa, but across the globe.
"God does work in amazing and miraculous ways...and every person
and country has a unique purpose in "God's Divine Plan".
Craig Lock
*
"How apartheid was finally buried, without requiem; but in
joyous celebration, will remain forever in the hearts and minds
of a nation reborn. When tears came, and there was dampness in
the eyes of even the most stern, it was for putting the past in
the past and hoping for hope in the future."
"South Africa is blessed in resources beyond many. It dare not
live just for itself. It must work and labour to bless Africa
and the world...but especially Africa. If only for Africa's sake we dare not fail;
because as South Africa goes, so will the rest of Africa."
*
Editor's note (http://www.bridgeniche.com): This prayer of Craig Lock was published in THE BRIDGE EZINE,...so thought we'd share.
Prayer for South Africa 1994 (and these days especially for Southern Africa...and specifically - Zimbabwe)
by Craig Lock
We join in prayer to celebrate this new nation and surrender its destiny to you. We give thanks in our hearts to the founding of this vibrant nation of diverse peoples, a beautiful yet tragic land built upon the rivers of blood, that flowed from our forefathers; yet still flow today...a 'happy sad' land of such contrasts. We give thanks for and bless the souls of those, who came before us and prepared this nation, to nurture and to save it; because so many gave their lives for it, some selflessly and many needlessly.
We ask that God's Holy Spirit now fill the hearts of all this great nation's citizens with thoughts of goodwill, righteousness, justice, acceptance and respect for others. In this may we be cleansed of all destructive thoughts. May judgement of others, bigotry, racism and intolerance be washed clean from our hearts, like the blood of our forefathers.
God, instill in us especially a generous spirit of forgiveness and hope for the future.
May we play our parts, all of us, in the healing and the furtherance of our diverse country; so that South Africa will one day fulfill its immense potential, a promise yet to be fulfilled. To do the very best within our abilities in developing "the Beloved Country" socially, politically, economically and spiritually...in a spirit of acceptane, co-operation, reconciliation and peace - each and every one of us.
Let each one of us build bridges rather than barriers, openness rather than walls. Let us look at distant horizons together in a spirit of acceptance, helpfulness, co-operation and peace. Let our leaders look at the future with a vision - to see things not as they are, but what they could one day become.
*
Dear Almighty God, you are all-powerful and omnipresent. You hold each one of us in the palms of your mighty hands. May our minds be filled with the thoughts of You; Your unconditional love and Your acceptance of all Your people, Your children. May this nation be forgiven its transgressions against its fellow citizens of all races and creeds and any and all others… so that we as a nation can move forward in harmony and prosperity.
May our lives be turned to instruments of resurrection and reconciliation, to reach out and bring all our peoples together, that the sins of our fathers might be reversed through us, His children. Let us forgive, even if we can never forget. May the rich promises of this beautiful country of such contrasts be fulfilled...at long last.
The greatest resource in any nation is its citizens; so may the beauty and greatness of this rich, diverse and vibrant land burst forth in the hearts of all it's people. Out of the mistakes and tragedy of the past, may the dreams of our forefathers be realised in us; so that we might live with thoughts of goodwill, honesty,
integrity, excellence and peace with our neighbours in a bright new dawn..
May this country become a light at the top of the hill unto all the nations of this world (but especially in the "dark" neglected continent of Africa): so that our country will be a beacon of goodness, tolerance of differences, freedom, peace and especially hope.
(Because the human condition has far more in common, than our cultural, ethnic and racial differences) May violence and darkness be cast out of our midst. May hatred no longer find fertile ground in which to grow here. May all of us feel God's, the Ultimate Source of Life's immeasurable mercy, infinite Grace and Love upon each one of us.
Dear God, please, please ignite in our hearts, in the depths of our souls the spark of Your light, the spirit of truth. May our newborn nation be given a new light: one of justice and rightiousness that will be seared into our hearts, the sacred fire of freedom, democracy, the spirit of reconciliation and Your forgiveness for past transgressions: So that the flame of 'ubuntu', the generosity of spirit burns brightly in the heart of all New South Africans. A new light of Love that will shine so brightly right across this vast land as a beacon of hope for the future - from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, from the Limpopo in the north to the Cape of Storms at the southern tip of Africa. May we be forgiven - each one of us. May our children be blessed. May we be renewed. May each one of us be filled with the spirit of the Almighty, the Divine. In our lives may the "Rainbow Children of the Beloved Country" manifest the glory of God, that lies within every one of us.
Dear God, please bless South Africa.
Amen
Craig Lock (1994)
Madiba (President Mandela), I hope you like it.
With best wishes and the utmost admiration for your immense
generosity of spirit throughout your life.
*
Doesn't the world need a leader like Nelson Mandela today?
"Cometh the hour, cometh the man."
The problems of the world today cannot be solved by thinking at
the same level that created them.
Jesus Christ challenged the conventional thinking of the day
over 2000 years ago.
PPS: Why can't the world now try a radically different approach
to South Africa's "largely forgotten" neighbour, Zimbabwe in
"darkest Africa". Even though it's not a strategic country, like Iraq!
Like South Africa in the past decade, let the world NOW show how
the immense problems under a brutal and repressive government
can also be solved PEACEFULLY through "constructive engagement
and negotiation in a show of peaceful unity with FIRM
LEADERSHIP". Time to show some effective leadership and to act decisively on Zimbabwe now, President Thabo Mbeki (you can immediately make the lives of thousands of Zimbabweans far better by firmly condemning the brutal repression of its citizens by Robert Mugabe!
Let's not wait for ten years idly passing by (as in Iraq!). It is
now time to "raise the bar" - what and what we will not accept in the global community, as 'acceptable behaviour' what the world expects now as
acceptable (and decent) standards of behaviour in the community
of nations. A radically different approach is needed with the problem of Zimbabwe to that imposed on
Iraq; yet with the same "force and passion" as the US military
have shown. Now it's time for the world to stand up and be
counted. To show the peaceful, yet FIRM way to resolving
seemingly insurmountable problems and bring a more "democratic" form of government to that beleagured country. To at last show some
effective leadership and shower the people of that beautiful, yet blighted
land under Southern skies with humanitarian aid in the form of
desperately needed food, health supplies and education. That is
the "pressure", which will raise the standards of what the
citizens of Zimbabwe will and will not tolerate from their
brutal dictator. Pressure from within AND without, as with Apartheid South Africa. A more educated, well-fed and healthy population
will bring about change naturally and according to the will of the people....
so that eventually "the people will govern".
It is not up to us to forcibly impose our values (Western and
"superior") on other cultures. (Sanctions incidentally isolate
people, build borders and entrench attitudes. Even when people
radically disagree with other countries internal regimes, things
can change far more easily through dialogue (even with one's
enemies) and without the devastating long-term consequences of
violence in countries, when co-operation, friendship and help is
offered in a spirit of tolerance, love and generosity.
Those leaders, who ignore the lessons of world history are doomed
to repeat them.
Let's fight the "war for peace" with passion and with all of our
energies. In the "WAR FOR PEACE" everyone then benefits (a
"win/win" situation). I believe, that is the only true way to
lasting world peace in living with and acceptance of each
other...
And so helps make a better world.
Craig Lock
P.S: I am reminded of something Mahatma Gandhi's said not long
before he was assassinated:
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of
truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and
murderers and for a time they seem invincible; but in the end,
they always fall.
Think of it, ALWAYS."
"Love suffers long and is kind. Love does not rejoice in
iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things,
believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love
never fails. And now abide faith, hope, love; but the greatest
of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13
"When the world is filled with love, people are overflowing with hope."
Let the world of nations immediately lift sanctions on the
beleagured people of Iraq and sent as much humanitarian resolve
to help rebuild that devasted country.
"Let us take courage. The years are passing. The time for
decision is now."
Craig Lock (Eagle Productions)
http://www.craiglockbooks.com
"The greatness of a nation
consists not so much
in the number of it's people
or the extent of it's territory
as in the extent
and justice of it's compassion."
- Inscription at the Horse Memorial in Port Elizabeth, for horses killed in the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902
'The New Rainbow' is available at: http://www.craiglock.com/books.html
or to order contact Craig at clock@paradise.net.nz
Craig's other novels on South Africa that he "felt inspired to write" are available at: http://www.bridgeniche.com/southern-african-experience/index.html
THIS PIECE MAY BE FREELY PUBLISHED
About the Author
Craig is an "infopreneur", who loves to encourage people to follow their wildest dreams.
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