SCRIP-BITS

I like how the Lord admired His handiwork and found it be very good. He took pride in what He had created, and so too should we.

‘Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them (the things He had created). And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he rested from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.’ (Gen.2:1-3)

Yes my people, today is the Sabbath day for a multitude of Christians. We ought to fill it with as much rest, praise, fellowship and worship as possible. However, as this interesting and most appropriate quote of Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964) India’s first Prime Minister indicates, those things are getting more difficult to do with each passing day.

And the quote simply says: ‘The basic fact of today is the tremendous pace of change in human life.’  

And isn’t that the gospel truth Friends. Life is changing so rapidly today that it’s difficult for many of us to keep up. From the numerous technological changes to the social ones, like almost all business places now being open on Sundays. That means more people have to work on Sundays, which obviously restricts both family and church life.

If Nehru thought life was changing fast in his time, can you imagine his reaction to the vast sea and pace of change that has taken place in the last sixty or seventy years since he reputedly made that statement? Hn! He would be totally shocked.

And talking about the pace of life and change reminds me that it’s already three years (August 31 2011) since my dear mother Molly went to be with the Lord. Three years have already passed, even though it seems like just yesterday.

Thank you Molls sugar for all the human and godly effort you put into raising me as a single mother. And I truly don’t regret one day of the time we spent together. It wasn’t always wine and roses, but I know you did your best with what you had, and even during what we considered hard times, we had it better than many others. The Lord always made a way for us to be satisfied.

I know that you are now singing and praising as heartily to the Lord in heaven as you did here on earth, and I’m trying to follow in your footsteps, though I’m nowhere near as good and godly as you were. But sonny boy is trying ‘M’ and I will do my utmost best not to tarnish your good name. (smile) 

I have one apology to make here though Molls. I obviously haven’t forgotten you, but it seems that in my busy and lazy lifestyle I have forgotten to come and visit you this year at your last earthly resting place. Please forgive me for that.

I am a tad upset with the Lord for not reminding me of that before yesterday, and there were so many days I could have done so with ease. However, don’t worry, there’s still time before the weather turns cold, and I will make up for it very soon.  

Now let’s turn to the second milestone in my life on August 31; that of Independence Day celebrations in my homeland of Trinidad and Tobago. I don’t remember a whole lot about that fateful day in 1962, for I was only about 14 years of age then and wasn’t too politically inclined.  I do believe I spent it on holidays in Trinidad.

In hindsight though, it was possibly the most significant day in the nation’s history. Under the first Prime Minister, Dr. Eric Williams, one of the brightest and most brilliant statesmen to come out of the Caribbean, the country dragged itself up by its bootstraps out of the murky mire of Colonialism and took its rightful place on the world stage.

However, some 52 years later, poor Eric Williams must be turning over in his grave at the mess, the disastrous situation and the terribly low standards to which the once thriving and peaceful country has deteriorated. Instead of being rightly famous for its carnival, calypso, steelband, limbo and laid back life, it’s now also targeted for being riddled with crime, drugs and corruption in almost all aspects of life.

Unfortunately, the leadership since ‘the Doc’ hasn’t been as strong or as focused on the overall betterment of the people as he was, thus the severe deterioration on all fronts. No one has come to the fore strong enough or interested enough to bridge the divide between the two main ethnic groups, those of African and East Indian origin. And until that happens, the country will unfortunately remain divided, hampered and stigmatized.

Please, let’s pray for a strong leader to rise up, and for the people to wake up from their fear and lethargy and turn back to God and godly things as once was the case. That’s the only way the total decline will ever be halted.

Now let’s close with some wise words from Isaiah on the observance of the Sabbath. ‘If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places (hills) of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.’ (Is.58:13-14)

Oh my people, there it is – heavenly wisdom handed to us on a silver platter! Please let’s accept it nuh, so that our world can start being turned around. Much LOVE!

…for the sake of Jesus…our children…and their offspring down through the ages…let’s do the wise thing nuh…and turn back to Almighty God…