today was a good day for the first few hours, then it went sour. i really must say that there is a feeling that people have that i’ve not always appreciated nor understood until today. there are many people in the world that have no recourse when someone in a more powerful position exerts their power over them. some people feel trapped and ultimately just give in and allow the more powerful to push and manipulate them. they are truly clay in the potters hands, but not a loving potter but a sadistic, power-crazed potter. it is really sad to see this here in africa and it is even worse when you experience it for yourself. today, i had to submit myself to someone who wished to use their power over me and force me to give into their will. i willingly did so, but also because i knew that if i fought against it, i would lose and possibly bring difficulty to my family. it is truly a feeling of Christ when they were accusing me of all kinds of wrongs while all i could do was to let them have their way. it is a disgusting feeling knowing that if they were willing to do this to me, then how much more willing are they to do it to others who are more helpless and defenseless than i am.
when we think about africa and i consider all the difficulties that africans face, i have seen the ugly face of power today. here, it seems, that some people use power only for their own means. they use it to control and manipulate but not to elevate others. they see themselves as the one who is all powerful and gives out pittance to those who will always be beneath them. it is sad to see this and i wonder how anyone could fight against this. what does give me hope is this, and it is rather simple. those who have discipled themselves to Christ have given up on all claims of power that they might ever espouse to. they have surrendered and will allow Christ alone to have power over them and they are forever forbidden to seek power over others.
this is a hard teaching that i can see that Jesus spoke out against. it is hard since power blinds you and does not let go easily. i pray for these people who have used their power against us. i pray that God himself will show them his power and authority and that he will crush them in order to release those who are held captive (including me). i see david praying like this against his enemies. i pray that God will vindicate me against my enemies and will allow my honor to be restored. God has allowed me to be poor in spirit. i pray that he will rise up and protect us from these people.
getting over there... 