MOSES    

Moses , a Jewish slave ,

Saved by his mother from a certain death ,

Brought up as a prince of Egypt . 

But on discovering his heritage ,

Did not hesitate to murder an Egyptian, 

The oppressor of his fellow men . 

Forty years he lived in hiding ,a wanted man ,

Until God sought him out to deliver his people ,

From the evil clutches of the Egyptians . 

Reluctant he was at first. 

With no skill of speech or eloquence ,

To convince Pharaoh to let his people go 

And fearing Retribution from the Egyptians,

 

But with the faith that grew in him,

He conceded to God’s Will and lived ,

To be known as the deliverer of the Israelites, 

From the Egyptian bondage and slavery. 

 

Moses teaches us to have faith and courage !

It took a lot of courage to face pharaoh, 

Each time, with nothing but a staff and 

His unquestioning  Faith in God ! 

We need to hear God’s voice when 

He calls and answer in faith 

 

GIDEON

Gideon , a man who lived in fear  , 

Belonged to The least of the tribes of Israel. 

When he was threshing wheat in hiding 

God called him to deliver his people ,

From the hands of the Midianites . 

 

He was a man of no standing , no valour ,

It could only be a mistake. 

He sought proof and God sent ,

A fire that consumed his offering ,

Which convinced Gideon .

 

He set out to free the Israelites,

With an army of thirty two thousand,

But God reduced the army to 300 strong ,

For He wanted to show His people ,

That victory is from God and not man .

 

Are we not often like Gideon ,

Reluctant to answer God’s call ,

Seeking proof and miracles , 

What we fail to see is that  , 

We are His Miracles ! 

The change He works In each one of us ! 

 

 

JONAH

 

Jonah , a man who played truant ,

When God sent him to Nineveh ,

To tell them to turn away from sin. 

Jonah didn’t care for this 

As they were the enemies . 

He disobeyed God and took a boat ,

In the opposite direction . 

 

Not far , the ship runs into a storm. 

It is soon established  that Jonah has

Displeased God and has to be 

cast into the sea to quell the storm. 

Then swallowed by a whale,

He lay in its belly three days

In prayer and repentance. 

God hears his prayer and saves him 

From the mouth of death .

On the third day, he is spat out by the whale, in Nineveh .

He then preaches God’s message to them 

The people of Nineveh hear him , 

Repent and turn back to God.

 

We can identify ourselves with Jonah .

God calls each one of us 

Has a purpose for us ,

But we prefer the comfort of ignorance,

To turn a blind eye , a deaf ear, to procrastinate .

Maybe, like Jonah, we fear 

Ridicule and rejection, while preaching 

The word, especially to non believers . 

During the Lent, like Jonah alone in whale’s belly

Let’s reflect and pray, repent, grow closer to God 

And find His purpose for us . 

 

PETER

Peter , a fisherman , with a couple of boats

A man with a big heart and over zealous . 

When he heard Jesus  and was called , he

Dropped everything to follow Him,.

 

He was no learned Jew , but this he knew ,

He recognised his master as Lord ,

And was willing to follow Him, to the very end . 

He was a brave man and with a sense of pride

But at great cost he learnt that ,

His courage and strength existed ,

Only in the presence of Jesus  . 

 

The first instance being ,

Walking on water keeping his eyes on Jesus ,

Sinking when he took his eyes off of the Lord.

Second instance being 

When he swore not to deny Jesus ,

But doing just that when he was away from 

The Lord . 

This is a great lesson for all of us . 

Do we live fearlessly in the presence of God?

Or live in fear and anxiety, away from Him ? 

We can be weak and fall short,

But still find strength in Jesus,

He can still make us the ‘ Rock ‘ of His church .

 

PAUL 

Saul a learned scholar, a Pharisee ,

Lived strictly by the law and 

Hated and persecuted the Christians . 

That did not stop God ,

From calling him to His service . 

Saul’s name is changed to Paul ,

And as we know , once the scales, 

From his eyes fell off , revealing the truth,

He recognised the Lord and His teachings. 

Then transformed, he dedicated his life to

Spreading the Good news and was instrumental 

In the wide spread of Christianity . 

 

From Paul we can learn ,

That no one is beyond the reach of the Lord,

He can call us from all walks of life ,

From the highest to the lowest ,

We are before Him the same . 

The important thing is to answer ,

To accept , His call , with humility,

Knowing He will strengthen us and guide us to do

His Will . 

Sarah, born a princess, married to her cousin Abraham, left her homeland to follow her husband to a land unknown. Many a peril they faced on the way but bravely she stood by his side .

God promised Abraham that He would make him the father of a nation and his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, as the sand on the seashore .

But the promise came much too late in their lives! Sarah barren so far, did not hope to see the fulfilment of God’s promise. Taking control, she led her handmaiden Hagar to her husband bringing trouble upon herself .

Soon a son was born to Hagar , Ishmael – meaning the small son of Abraham. God visited Abraham again and told him the descendants He promised would be from Sarah’s son Isaac, who would be born within the year . Sarah scoffed in disbelief as she was ninety years old and well beyond child bearing.

But a year later, Isaac was born . After the birth of her son, Sarah demands that Hagar the handmaiden is sent away for she did not want Ishmael to share Abraham’s heir ship with Isaac .

At the start of the marriage, Sarah followed Abraham to the unknown land. It was out of duty, love and definitely a sense of adventure. As time went by and the hardships were many and she is not so very accommodating.

This is evident in her taking control by trying to hasten God’s promise. Then when things got out of hand with Hagar and her son Ishmael, she drives them away.

The lessons we learn are – Never to give up on God’s promises. He is faithful and will deliver, to wait patiently on His timing, not to rely on ourselves and try to take control, and fight our circumstances. When our wrong choices lead to adverse consequences, to be able to recognise it and set it right – even if it hurts .

Another important point – Galatians ch 4 v 22-31 Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and is likened to the old covenant as that is where Moses received the Ten Commandments and to the earthly Jerusalem. Hence children of the bond woman are considered to be of the flesh and enslaved .

Sarah is the free woman and likened to the new covenant. Children born of the free woman are free and belong to the spirit and the heavenly Jerusalem.

Today I saw a woman who lost her child 15 days ago . I went to visit a classmate from college, who I heard had lost her daughter two weeks ago . Wondering how to console a mother, who had recently lost her dear daughter, I was filled with trepidation as I rang the doorbell.

The door was opened and there stood my classmate, her face not drenched with tears, but with a smile . She welcomed me with a hug, seated me on the sofa, and seemed genuinely happy to see me after nearly forty years. Speaking in a composed tone she narrated the events that led to her daughter’s sad demise. There were interruptions, demands of the household, family members, all of which she attended to, with equanimity .

My surprise at her composure must have been evident, for she then explained that her faith is strong, has been from when she was young, and she rests in it. She had no doubt her daughter was safe in heaven and she would one day see her again. She did not crumble or collapse under this devastation but accepted it was her daughter’s time, the time that God had written for her when she was born.

Her daughter had led a full life, always filled with joy and happiness and regrets she had none, whatsoever. I was amazed, and came away humbled, finding no use for the words of comfort I had prepared for a grieving mother . I realised this woman had more faith in her little finger, than I had in the whole of my being . I pray ardently, Lord, no matter how strong our faith, please never bring us to such test .

Almost every day, some small incident causes undue heartache, undue pain, as memories of a time gone by, flood through with a longing for what  can never be again . Thoughts of a family once so close, thoughts of siblings now no more, longing for a time we romanticise, a time we once took for granted.

It maybe in the whisper of the rushing wind, the brush of leaves against the window pane, It could be the song of the cuckoo calling its mate , or the sunset tinting the sky pink before fading away. It could be the simplest occurrence that could stir the soul and pull at the heartstrings . What is this emotion, that lurks not far beneath the surface , to quickly raise its head, reminding us what we once were  . 

It could be the warm Christmas lights, bringing nostalgic moments of shared laughter, the shared gifts amongst friends. It could be the fire light casting shadows of people with whom we once shared a strong bond, it could be the cold night echoing carols that we once sang with abandon, or it could be just that one lone star swaying in the wind, reminding us there is still hope.

At the end of each year, the last day we cling on to, dancing till the wee hours of the morning, partying senselessly, as if to hold on to the remnants of the past. Though overwhelmed by the fear of letting go of the familiar, we reluctantly welcome the unfamiliar. The new day, the future of yesterday, the soon to be past of tomorrow, a new day to herald the start of another three sixty five days, which we pray will  bring good fortune, and not too many changes . 

But Life is nothing if not a wheel of fortune, sometimes up and sometimes down. The past though we always picture as perfect , was filled with its fair share of troubles. Some trapped in situations with no escape, hope the New Year will bring them release, some soaring on wings of success, hope they will never descend , and those who are in between, hope for release from their stagnant lives . 

Where do we then hide from time that stops not, but like a tide pushes us along to the very end. Inspite of digging our heels in, saying no to the passing of seasons, refusing to see the creases in our face, refusing to acknowledge the frailty of our limbs and frame, we engage in activities of the young, for fear of growing old, for fear of being a failure . Then too late we realise, with each new birthday, we are just thistle in the winds of change, tossed and swept away to the twilight of our lives.

I chanced upon a video on social media, a pop up choir, made up of random strangers, who got together for the love of singing . Not exactly organised, not with the best of band, but they sang so good, some so high, some so low and some maybe just lip synced, but it was ‘rocking’ music all along . 

It was not long after I heard from a friend that the event occurred every first Saturday of the month, at a location close to home and I could register for the next session. I was once known for my singing voice, not exceptional vocal quality but definitely one to add value to a choir . Needless to add, I didn’t pursue my talent. 

With years of neglect, my signing came to halt when I started a career and family. Now, after the eons of suppression, my singing is at best a croak.  Excited at the prospect of re discovering my voice, I joined them last month, on a rainy Saturday evening. Each one who came in introduced themselves, without much ado and the questions asked were simple, just two – is it your first time and which note do you sing – medium, high or low ? Of course I chose the safe ‘ medium’ . 

There was a game first . We were divided into four groups to play ‘Antakshari ‘ . With some excellent singers in the group, it was no wonder that we won the game. There were no prizes but the winning definitely raised my dwindling confidence. Soon after there were practice sessions for all the levels. We were quick to master the song and sang the final time for the recording.

As mentioned earlier, with my lack of proficiency, my singing was all over the place, sometimes high, sometimes low , sometimes medium or just mumbling , but the voice of the choir, singing as one, carried me along to the finish . There was no criticism, there was no pressure, there was just camaraderie as we sang along for the joy of singing and i must add, it sounded divine .

I then realised, the power of this pop up choir, lies in the sense of belonging one feels. Belonging to a community where the love for singing draws people, the young and the old, from far and wide, to gather, to make music. It is not to excel, not to compete, it is not for recognition but for self restoration, it is just to experience the abandon of singing without inhibitions. And to whether ‘The Soul Circle’ is a success – you well know the answer! ❤️😊

Can I have a second chance at life , can I make right all the wrong I did, can I slow my walk through the tunnel of time to savour the pleasures that never lasted long ? Can I rest in the arms of dear ones who left too soon, can I hold them tight never to let go, never to say the goodbyes that filled my life with sadness ? Can I live again the goodness of those long gone idyllic days, a time when we only chased happiness, and dreams that never materialised ?

Can I embrace the joy that was once a way of life, can I retrace my steps, can I turn away from the path of disappointment, and walk the sure path of success? Can I un-speak the words that caused dissent, the words that made enemies of even trusted friends ? Can I wave a wand to undo the hurt I caused, can I erase the grief of careless actions, can I go back and heed the warnings of wisdom before my unwise choices resulted in disappointment ?

Can I stop time, can I change the one wrong decision made in haste, that shaped my life and those of loved ones, can I coax a whisper of consent from time, to halt and alter that which is unalterable? Can I wipe out  from the past that tragic accident, that one life changing incident which fashioned our destiny, and even of those not yet born ? Can I go back and heal the pain, the suffering I witnessed every single day since ? 

Can I return to reclaim the time I lost, squandered in the pursuit of futile goals ? Can I break the silence of time, confess to my sins of neglect, wastefulness and apathy, can I chase away the guilt of actions that caused anguish in others and me ? Can I find that momentous cross roads again , stop and walk the right path, to avoid the endless chaos, can I go back to change, to delete the past, and start over again?

Can I relive life on my terms, rewrite my script, knowing the road ahead, knowing where to tread, knowing the pitfalls, circumventing them, knowing actions best suited for a contented life ? Can I live knowing the people to avoid, the people to hold close, knowing when to say ‘no’ ,when to speak and when to stay silent? Can I return to the past and grab the innocence I left behind, can I re-learn that happiness is my wealth, can I try once more to experience joy in the small things, can I rekindle those long lost dreams?

Will I get it right the second time, can I really change my fortune, can I change what is already engraved in time ?Then looking back I think, is my life not exactly what it is meant to be, is it not according to my God’s plan, as He wished it for me? Each time I strayed, each time I took a misstep, there was always a gentle Hand to guide me, each time I mourned, His angels He sent to comfort me . Each time strife overtook, each time pain reared its ugly head, His abundant grace surrounded me.

Each time I erred and repented, I felt His overflowing mercy and forgiveness, each time I faltered, His outstretched arms caught me. He made my wrong His right, turning it around for my good. Each time I wallowed in self pity, each time I felt sad and lonely, He whispered tenderly that I was not alone, He used the tears I wept, to wash away my sorrows, filling me with His peace . Now I stand strong knowing, the One who gave me life walks by my side, He has set me free from the shackles of the past, and I have no need for second chances, for He has far greater things in store for me !

On a much awaited vacation recently , we were surprised by a gift from our son, a road trip to some of the major cities on the east coast of Canada . The dawn of the trip, graced by a sunrise so glorious that no hand could paint, no lens could capture, we set out with great excitement.

Enjoying every moment, every sight and beauty of creation and the created we were transported to a world of the unexpected . Tall pine trees like sentinels, guarding the wooded regions behind them holding secrets never to be known. The winding roads, undulating to a rhythm of their own ,picturesque countrysides, quaint houses holding stories never to be told , terrace cafés filled with beautiful people, talking and laughing without a care in the world.

Historic monuments, monoliths, we saw, swift flowing rivers, carrying tales of those who had been there before, emptying into lakes that stoically gathered them. The mighty Niagara took our breath away, not dwarfing in height but wide, the great volumes of water like sheets of glass falling and breaking below thunderously. No man nor mind can fathom or measure the depths or the volume of water that flowed riotously, every moment.

White sandy beaches, milky waterfalls, parks with lush green grass, sprinkled with lavender. Maple trees lining the tracks, their leaves nodding sagely in the breeze, emanating a caramel scent that enveloped us as we walked alongside the sparkling stream. Nature unsullied lying before us, like a touch of heaven on earth. To make a mention of the proprietary geese in the park, honking irritably at the humans, is only proper .

The cities with their towering buildings in shapes and sizes that defied gravity, were interspersed by areas known as the old part with their cobbled streets and charming quaint gabled roof buildings. Squares decorated with flowers and murals, cafés boasting local delicacies on their menus, impromptu artists and bands performing, to an enthralled audience .

A whole day could pass, just sitting there, with the sun on your head, enjoying a cup of coffee , chewing on a delectable cookie, and just watching people go by . Tourists in their leisurely manner, locals hurrying around on some business, people mostly friendly, except for some looking on with just a tad of annoyance, at the intrusion .

A visit to St. Joseph’s Oratory, the tallest church in the country, the largest shrine in the world, dedicated to St Joseph, with its impressive dome, located on Mount Royal in Montreal, was an exceptional experience . A remarkable work of architecture, the church was founded in 1904, and built by various architects . The sculpture of the Angels Unawares depicting refugees, huddled together on a boat, subtly covered by emerging angel wings symbolises the Divine presence . The view of the city from above is worth documenting.

More churches and spires, more statues and stained glass, each more magnificent than the other . Breathtaking scenery and awe inspiring monuments, overwhelming the senses . Gourmet foods, exotic fruits, scents and sights were altogether an assault to the senses ! Oh it was not all fun and frolic, there were times of anxiety and stress, yet there was an all pervasive sense of freedom, a feeling of unfettered abandon, of being at peace with creation. It was by far the best holiday we ever had !

For days we prayed for Arie, a child whose body was wracked by a deadly blood disorder. a disease that was diagnosed when he seemed healthy and well. The parents were heartbroken at the news of this disastrous illness, that had descended like a blight on their darling boy . Sparing no expense, they rushed him to the best hospital, they gave him the very best of treatment, they garnered the help of family and friends in prayer support, as they left no stone unturned to find healing for their son .

Day after day they sat in the hospital room, taking turns the mother and father, sitting by the bed, watching their baby boy in pain . Praying without ceasing for healing, praying for a miracle, for deliverance from suffering, for their little child. Not giving up hope, not acknowledging this could be the end, they strove to snatch him back from the clutches of death. And when they saw babies in adjoining beds getting well, leaving to go home, their hope knew no bounds, believing it would be their son next .

The mother was pregnant with his baby sister who Arie longed to meet and play with, but little did he know that life would play a cruel trick and he would leave the land of the living, on the day she was born. The mother weeping,found little joy or comfort in the life growing within. The father stoically watched his beloved son wasting away but his faith still strong, he trusted his baby would make it through. When the whispers of woe were loud sometimes, he still ignored them and didn’t give up till the very end .

The community of family and friends rallied behind them, supporting in everything, praying together in unison, sure that the Heavens would show mercy and God Almighty would spare little Arie. But God in His wisdom, had another plan, a plan most painful, which He had formulated, set in motion even before we were knitted in the womb. On the day the mother was wheeled in to deliver her second baby, God called Arie, relieved him of his pain and struggle, and took him from this earth to be by His side .

That, there, was the miracle ! After a long and weary fight, it was a release for the suffering child, for the parents a new baby born to fill their arms as they relinquished their darling boy, to death . The pain was devastating, as they bid Arie goodbye, the joy was bitter sweet as they welcomed their baby girl and if I were of another faith, I would say his soul was reborn, in a fair exchange . I pray the Lord wraps His loving arms around Arie’s parents, to comfort and strengthen them as they walk through the dark valley of death, holding on to the light of the new born baby .

A sad poem, a declaration by a soldier, was passed around on social media. A soldier relinquishing his worldly attachments and treasures , leaving it behind for family and friends, as he walks towards the battlefield, a field that holds his destiny. 

He carries his earthly belongings in a knapsack, and the tool of his trade his rifle, as he readies to face the enemy.,an unknown man on the other side . He steps out with a prayer on his lips, with thoughts of his loved ones back home , of shattered dreams, his heart overflowing with emotions that cannot be dammed even by the line of control. 

His eyes, the windows to his soul are bleak, as he waits terrified at the prospect of killing, of taking a life, which he was taught was a sin , or of being killed by a stray bullet, never more to enjoy the life which he knew as a sacred gift . The thought of sacrificing his life, or that of the innocent many, for the glory of his country had just lost its appeal . 

Standing alone, in a trench so far from home, he looks at his companions on either side of him, some familiar faces, brothers in arms, some just strangers in uniform. Driven by a sense for survival he is galvanised into action, shooting to kill, though he had never in his life taken another’s life . As he surveyed the battlefield, all he saw was death and destruction. A terrible sense of dread and futility, washed over him . 

Advancing forward, pushing the enemy line back, he knew his side was winning, but there was no elation, there was no cheer, no one to raise a cry of victory. There were men still dropping , victims of bullets from unknown enemies desperate to kill the other, rather than be killed. And if he survived, battle scarred and battered, he would return home, to be welcomed, not with pomp and show, but by his relieved family and friends. 

Then there was another battlefield, a stadium filled with excited fans . Fans from far and wide come to watch their favourite team, play their favourite game, cricket . The sound of the ball striking the bat, lifting off to fly high,  drew roars from the thick crowds, as they watched the slow progress of the game . The players considered heroes, adored by the multitude, their names on every lip, dazzled the spectators with dizzying swings of their bat . 

The crowd shrieked with joy at each scored run or cried in woe at each ball drop, there were screaming highs or saddened lows, as the match progressed, soon to approach its finish. When finally the game was over, the winners were awarded the cup, as the stadium rocked with thunderous applause and cheering, the fans back home were in a fever of jubilation and celebration . 

Then came the announcement on the following day of a felicitation arranged for the players at the team’s hometown stadium. There was no stopping the excitement that swept the city, tickets were sold and the afternoon took on the air of much festivities. The fans gathered, men women and children alike, to capture spots that would afford the best visual of the victory parade . 

Oh, but what a crowd that was, growing like a tsunami, with multitudes flowing onto the street, people climbing over one another, over the walls and the fences to catch a glimpse of their favourite heroes . Needless to add, the crowd was soon out of control, turning the event into a stampede. What followed was a tragedy,with people wounded and dying . A welcome party, a felicitation, soon turned into the worst calamity.  

The irony was not lost on many. A soldier, going to battle, willing to lay down his life for the safety of his countrymen, receives not the welcome of pomp and grandeur on his victorious return but the cricket players are welcomed as heroes , in a manner fit for kings and unfortunately on this occasion, at the cost of the lives of their fans, the very lives the soldiers had fought to protect.

The second greatest commandment of all and Jesus added a codicil , to love your enemies not just friends as even sinners love those close to them . A tall order in a society where relationships are fragile and even the very best friends can soon become enemies, if there is a small misstep. None of us can qualify to be blameless or without sin, especially when we apply such a difficult commandment . Who amongst us can even try to emulate Jesus, the commandment of loving our neighbour, leave alone our enemies. 

Often it would be just a small mistake that we are quick to judge, resulting in the immediate exclusion of the culprit from our lives. We  see this pattern, especially on social media , we notice how certain members of a group are sidelined for slights they may have knowingly or unknowingly committed. of which they are sometimes even unaware . We set high standards for others and seldom feel the necessity to follow the same . 

An incident that occurred a few weeks ago comes to mind, a perfect example. A dear friend from the past, I did not greet this year on her birthday, for she did not acknowledge the last greetings I sent. However, on my birthday, she sent special greetings, though I had ignored her . That is not the end of the story. Being busy on my birthday and several days thereafter, I did not notice her greetings nor did I acknowledge it . Many days later I saw her birthday wishes and felt most guilty . 

Was it not for the same reason I had been offended, which now seemed trivial ? For it is obvious it could not have been deliberate but just oversight. I had mercilessly condemned her not giving her the benefit of doubt. I had presumed it was an intentional act of omission meant as an insult . Feeling convicted, I realised it was my Lord showing me what a hypocrite I was for needlessly blaming someone for what was unintentional. 

How many of our friends and acquaintances have we turned away from, stopped speaking to, never trying to resolve what we thought was a hurtful comment, a damaging act, which probably was not even intended to be that . Let us try to bridge those chasms, restore and heal broken relationships with family and friends before we try to love our enemies. 

In conclusion I felt the following passage was relevant.

Matthew 7:3-5

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.