New Words for a New South Africa

originally posted at sareeds.wordpress.com on June 15, 2009

I’m still trying to process the things God is putting in my heart related to my time at Amahoro last week.  I feel like something quite huge has been planted in my soul, and I’m quite excited to see what grows out of it.  Something I would like to share here is related to another set of stories that I seem to be hearing in multiple places these days.  These stories all revolve around identity.

Every person whose story I have heard in the past week has some element of a confusion about their true identity.  One such story was a young man from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (a place I would LOVE to see Nieu Communities get into) who said, “Everyone who meets me, when they hear that I’m from the Congo, the only question they ask is if I can dance.  As if it’s the only thing we can do.  I have more to offer the world than that.”  He’s not kidding.  Muhindo is one of the best guitar players I’ve ever had the privilege to jam with (of course I found a djmebe and we forged a friendship), probably one of the sharpest minds I’ve met from my generation, and a heart like Jesus has for people.

Other stories I’m hearing from the Afrikaaner communities are old words that once defined them that were never really true of everyone from this culture.  Words like “racists,” “supreme,” “proud,” etc… These words are lies that have been used as generalizations which have robbed true identity from beautiful people.  These words need to be transfigured… because…

“pain that is not transfigured will get transmitted.” Claude Nikondeha (Amahoro 2009 Gathering)

I believe that the church is where new words SHOULD be spoken to individuals.  My friends have heard these false words about themselves their whole lives and are searching for a new identity… a new South Africa.  I believe that journey to a new South Africa comes when these false words are identified, a community listens to the pain those words have created, and new words of truth are spoken back in.

Perhaps this is the cure for global violence.  If a true word were spoken into rapist, perhaps they would cease to transmit their pain onto the innocent victims in my community.  May it be so.  Amahoro.

The Ministry of Presence

In America we are so used to “doing” something. In fact if we are not doing something we are wasting time, we are wasting resources… and perhaps we are also lazy. This idea gets turned on its head here in Africa. You see, after spending time at the Amahoro Africa Conference this past week I realize that as a white missionary… I’ve taken quite enough power away from these beautiful people. You can hear a talk given by Edward Simiyu here, at my friend Roger’s blog. It’s called “The Ministry of presence.”

You see, in Africa it’s actually quite important for the people of this continent to see us here, to know us and to be known by us. In Africa, you don’t rush off to appointments, you linger over tea, getting to know one another, being present with one another. Rather than coming and implementing program after program we should elect instead to engage in the ministry of presence. Only by spending time with and listening to people here, i.e., blacks and coloureds [yes Americans, that is the proper term in SA for mixed race persons] can we empower them to believe in themselves, to innovate solutions, to value their own opinions. They have been taught by our actions that white people’s ideas have intrinsic value, and if white people share their opinions for growth and change it shuts down what they might otherwise have to offer.

So let us in Africa engage in the ministry of presence… let’s stand with our brothers and sisters in Africa, encouraging them in their wisdom, their strength, their abilities. Let’s show them we care by being here, with them, hand in hand.

The unintended consequences of abstaining from…electricity

No electricity folks. That’s right. For one full rotation of this lonely planet ,once a month, abstinence from electricity. That is one of our commitments we as a community have made for the year of 2009. This practice is driven by a desire to reduce our carbon emissions which is hurting planet earth and disrupting fragile (and sacred!) ecosystems. It creates the space for us to think about ways we can function and be without electricity for one day. It also functions as a symbol that we are committed to being part of the solution to preserving Our Home, God’s creation. It keeps us aware of the impact we are having on our world and hopefully sensitizes us to continually seek to reduce our consumption of electricity.

As we have begun to practice this we have experienced two unintended consequences from this abstinence. This first unintended consequence of abstaining from electricity is that with the lack of distractions created by computers, TV, music etc one can actually quite easily become quiet and meditation, prayer and the much needed rest we all need becomes a lot easier. How much of our energy is wasted on worrying about e-mails that need to be written or work that needs to be done on the computer? Even though we are over worked and tired and in desperate need of rest and solitude, how much time do we spend in front of the TV trying to ‘get some rest’ and then later feel guilty and equally (if not more) tired than when we first sat down. That is the beauty of no electricity days. They remove all these distractions and carve out a beautiful space for peaceful rest and restorative meditation and prayer. The second unintended consequence of abstaining from electricity is that you rediscover the lost art of conversation, of simply being together and enjoying one another’s company. I remember the first abstinence day we practiced. After some time we all managed to find ourselves outside around a table chatting. No e-mails, no TV, no music nothing. Just pure, unadulterated conversation it was great. Our hope is that you would begin to consider joining us in this practice (some people even do this once a week) as symbol of your commitment to restoring God’s creation as well as rediscovering distraction free rest and conversation. Be creative with how you use that day, eat a salad, play a board game by candlelight, read a novel, look at the stars…(fill in blank) do whatever. I am almost willing to guarentee that after an abstinence day you will feel much more rested than usual.

 We started these abstaining from electricity days because we wanted to be responsible stewards of God’s world. The irony is that originally we thought this would be a sacrifice. The truth however is that we have been blessed with two ‘unintended consequences’ which are actually gifts to us and our community. I suspect that this is somehow the way in which the economy of God works, full of ‘unintended consequences’ which we encounter and enjoy as we pursue the Way of Love.