Fruit that remains

Being back in Africa at this stage of my life is an interesting experience.

It has been more than 25 years since I first went to Nigeria via Egypt. Apart from the proliferation of cell phones (communication), it is hard to see if real change is happening. Winkie Pratney says of all the technology at our disposal today - cell phones, internet, mass media - most conversations are along the line of "what's up?" "Nuthin." "What are u doin?" "Nuthin." "Want to hang out?" "Ok". What are we doing with all this technolgy? I suspect most of the phones in Africa facilitate the same kinds of calls we make in the West.

When I think back to my first trip to Africa, there still seems so many needs, so many lives without hope. As a parent, I wonder what hope the parents of children born in Africa today have for those children's lives. Will their lives be different than their own? Do they want it to be? Surely every parent does.

There is surely no hope for Africa without a true picture of God and of His world. In a discussion at the Mercy Ships dinner table tonight, it was suggested that the west benefits from the genes of those who wanted to move away from the status quo to new opportunities. There may be some truth in that. Another thought that the blessings (of West Africa) like the year round ability to grow food because of favourable soils and climate and water has not encouraged thinking beyond the immediate present. Genes and environment. They may contribute but there are always exceptions to these premises that indicate they play only a contributing role, if any.

It is more about how we think that determines what world we will live in. AS A MAN THINKS in HIS HEART - SO HE IS! says the book of Proverbs. Truth - that unpopular concept will not be denied in the end. If you know the truth, it will set you FREE said Jesus. What a nation - or a continent THINKS will be seen in the culture and society produced.

Therefore, all the development work of governments and NGOs will be tested by how closely they align with truth. Those so aligned, we see their work produce fruit that remains.

Growing up, moving on...

My eldest, Abigail is moving in to an apartment this weekend. College classes, work and theatre commitments equate to long hours. The thirty minute commute from home is sometimes hard to find in a busy day and week. So, she will move in with several new friends and begin the next step of gradually "leaving" the family and starting her own.

Sometimes it seems as if this major move has become insignificant in our society. Adulthood is thrust upon the young without much thought for the transition. The consequences may be that the young do not really know what is expected of them from adulthood and the responsibilities that go with it. Therefore, we have adults still acting like kids. Thinking of themselves before others. Few question what they are here (on the planet) for.

While the young now have to deal with some adult themes from an increasingly early age, character and responsibility are not part of the line-up from the institutions and messengers of the culture. If there are considerations for the world they will leave those who come behind, it is usually concluded that the planet would be better off with fewer humans - a not so subtle implication that they (the young) do not have much value. This is reinforced with the acceptability of abortion and euthanasia promoted by society.

The young are always the hope for the future in any society. Families who take thought for future generations do well to remember that stewardship of their children's transition to adulthood should not be taken lightly.