IN CELEBRATION OF LIFE

A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine emailed me from Kenya. She had just watched a YouTube posting showing a horrific murder of a young man whose main crime seemed to be, having been born of a particular ethnicity, and being in the 'wrong' part of his own country at the 'wrong' time. The email addressed two main issues; 1. the horror of the killings that have defined the troubles in Kenya; and, on a more personal note as new mother of a darling baby boy, 2. the wisdom of having given him names which clearly identify his ethnic background in a country where even babies are being burned, drowned, slaughtered, on account of ethnicity. Below is an excerpt of the email I sent in reply [names and personal details omitted for privacy]. I post it in the hope that if you or anyone you know is feeling this sense of despondency then perhaps this email may put some things in a different perspective and bring some light to a very dismal situation. "Thank you for your email. There are so many things contained therein, so many different sentiments. As always, I'll try to comprehensively respond to each with some ideas/thoughts etc. Perhaps this quote may answer some or at least lend some light. “A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind. Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful and pure thoughts. By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master gardener of his soul, the director of his life. He also reveals within himself, the flaws of thought, and understands, with ever-increasing accuracy, how the thought-forces and mind elements operate in the shaping of character, circumstances and destiny. The soul attracts that which it secretly harbours; that which it loves, and also that which it fears; it reaches the height of its cherished aspirations; it falls to the level of its unchastened desires and circumstances are the means by which the soul receives its own. Every thought-seed sown or allowed to fall into the mind, and to take root there, produces its own, blossoming sooner or later into act, and bearing its own fruit of opportunity and circumstance. Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bad fruit. The outer world of circumstances shapes itself to the inner world of thought, and both pleasant and unpleasant external conditions are factors which make for the ultimate good of the individual. As the reaper of his own harvest, man learns both of suffering and bliss.” – James Allen “As A Man Thinketh” If it is okay to execute young men in the slums of Mathare, Dandora or in Ngong forest on account of hair style or choice of worship, why is it shocking that they are executed in Burnt Forest on account of ethnicity? If it is ok to rape prostitutes on Koinange Street, why is it not ok to rape women in Elburgon? If it is ok to molest and kill street children in Nairobi, why is it an outcry when the same is done elsewhere? Or are they not people? Have they no God? Or does God not hear their cries? Perhaps Jesus does not consort with prostitutes any more and the mothers of slain boys from the slums do not qualify for answered prayer. Maybe God only hears well heeled, clean city folk, landed country people, and the rest… tough luck. For years we have cultivated a garden where killing is acceptable, rape is okay [heck, even called for], sexual molestation, slave wages, slums, street people… these are all acceptable as long as they happen to ‘those people’. In fact, we all agree that we are helpless to change anything and that our token prayer to God without commensurate action, fully absolves us of any responsibility. What this flare up has done is made us have to look at our own creation straight in the face and realize, we caused this. And like it or not, we did. For me, that is both a painful and a liberating thought. Painful because I find it difficult and I prefer to hide away from my responsibility in creating a situation so horrific; liberating because if I created this, then I can create something new in its place. There is a posting on the Intention Experiment website where the facilitator has calculated based on other experiments, that if 640 people focus on peace in Kenya for 15 minutes, 3 days a week, over a continuous period of time, it shall be so. The link is http://theintentionexperiment.ning.com/group/amanikenya. What I like about it and of course I have joined in, is that it is cultivating a new thought in our minds about our country. If you are up for it, please join and send it round to everyone you know. It’s our time to ‘stand in the gap’ for our country. I understand now the bargain that Abraham was making with God saying if there are 30 good men, would he still destroy the city. Perhaps it was a search for men and women of intent who focus on the reformation of the nation. In response to the query on naming our children, I would say this. God, that wonderful, amazing, unfathomable Entity that is in all things, yet is more than them all, that is the Energy that we are, that unites us with each other, with all creation, with Itself. God, that we call Mumbi, Creator; that entity in its infinite wisdom created us as we are. Wishing for a kaleidoscope of colour, She created different races. Wanting for a symphony of sound, different languages. A rainbow of cultures, different ethnicities. A canvas filled with activity and play, different faces. By honouring our culture, we do no more than join in the celebration of life, for life comprises culture, looks, sounds, customs and so very much more. I would never apologise on behalf of God, or try to correct Her ‘Error’ in placing my soul into this body, this experience at this time. I have no doubt that those in the know can correctly identify my culture no matter my name; and I am happy that they can. For it is a good thing. And a good thing that they are their culture because it brings something extra special to my heritage. Something that people brought into a monoculture have no experience of. Now it is neither a good or bad thing. It is a creation just like all others. I want my children to know where they come from but more importantly, I want them to forge their destiny bound not by the shackles of insecurity based on limited perceptions backed by crude weapons. No, instead based on the unshakeable knowledge that they are children of God and children of man; and they can realize all the potential that comes with their parentage. If as Jesus said, we could do the things He did and greater, then this is my desire for my children. So I choose not to respond to the limited. I choose the unlimited. And if it costs me my life, this is no problem for that which inhabits the body is infinite and lives forever.Atieno - celebrating the time of birth; Mumbi - Creator; Wangai - of God; Rizichi - gift from God; Muema - stubborn; Gakenia - bringer of joy, happiness, celebration. What would you rather we named them? Bartholomew? Elspeth? Phinehas? Do you honestly think it would save them from those genocidical exterminators? [is there such a word?] I would rather affirm the Eternal Creator than the limited edition small minded, insecure, machete welding murderer and his backer. I would rather celebrate life than correct God. Somehow, it seems like the better side to back, and I am a betting gal. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY To celebrate our heritage, to powerfully create our historical future, to fully live in the present - this is the bounty of life. RN