HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOUTH AFRICA!
Today is Freedom Day in South Africa. It is a public holiday to remind us that twenty one years ago the cloak of Oppression was lifted when all South Africans freely went to the political polls to vote for a new government to rule the country and its peoples. Twenty one years is a short period of time when one thinks in terms of nations. Liken that to a person, and one can understand that the new South Africa has a long way to go in becoming a full mature, functional and prosperous nation. At twenty one who isn’t still wet behind the ears, coming through the troubling teenage years with all its rebelliousness, rejections, broken promises and looking to find true identity and purpose. It is not easy, even for the best of us ! The distressing recent xenophobia displays, and rapid peace interventions are perhaps a sign on a maturing process taking place….a getting to know thyself of sorts. Happy birthday South Africa, may the next 21 years find you firmly engaged in building and planting prosperity and peace on the African continent.
And don’t forget to plant your Care Gardens for the Care Africa Movement project.
Plant some seeds in your yard, for food, and Plant a garden in your heart by reading the Bible every day to feed your soul. Send me a photo with your name or project’s name and help me build a photo blog with your Care Garden on it.
Freedom is not cheap, and Oppression comes in huge forms. Vividly seen from the TV news are evident results of oppressive leaders and governments who are hell bent on holding onto power, position and wealth, in spite of great cost to their own people. War, mass protest marches, mass migration from nation to nation seems to be a sign that Oppression rules almost everywhere in our Global Village.
But Oppression also comes in subtle forms, often nestles in the soul, and in the family where it is not so easy to detect, yet the outward reaction tells the tale. And when you think about it, is the soul not the place where the darkness can grow until it reaches monsterous proportions.? Eventually it vents itself into further Oppression causing the cycle of death, demise destruction – creating dark and dingy prisons of sadness, shame, sorrow and mourning – resulting in the captive soul – and a loss of liberty. Oppression causes this to happen on the soul, family, national and global level, as history has shown us. And peace is far off !
The Bible speaks of setting the captives free. Luke 4 and Isaiah 61 are Bible pieces that depict the human condition. It brings with it hope to those who are oppressed, depressed and suppressed. Those who battle depressions, afflictions and addictions – seekers for peace, but also for those who are the peace-bringers .
… To preach good tidings to the poor,
He has sent Me to heal the broken hearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
This is a song for freedom, true freedom, that transcends any tyrant or political system or person, or addiction that can hold us captive. Its the song of salvation that Jesus Christ sings over us… for He came to set the captives free. The real day of freedom is the day of salvation, the day of second chances and new beginnings, a freedom that is well worth celebrating.
CareSA 