NEW YEAR MESSAGE 2010

From the RT. Rev. Dr. S. Tilewa Johnson
(Bishop of The Gambia and Dean of the Province of West Africa)

Your Grace, MiLords, Sisters and Brothers, 

“He (the Lord) will judge between many peoples,
and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide.
They will beat their swords into ploughshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war any more.
Every man will sit under his own vine
and under his own fig tree,
and no-one will make them afraid,
for the Lord almighty has spoken.”
(Micah 4: 3 and 4)

It is a strong and basic part of the human condition to seek what is good for ourselves and for those whom we love.  This can be done either in PEACE; or it can be done in WAR.  By this I mean that we can value peace so much that it becomes a prime purpose; or we can fight those around us to gain what we want.  One method builds up the community; the other breaks it down.  One is a life without fear; the other a life where fear is a regular, if not constant, companion.

There are few people in our world who would say that they do not want peace.  When I say ‘peace’, I talk of peace of body, mind and spirit – SHALOM.  The prophet Micah’s vision – from God – was certainly for PEACE.  What is so wonderful about Micah’s vision is that it gives a message that change is possible.  It IS possible to move from war to peace - under God.

The key to this is when we realise it must be “under God”.  It may be a costly peace, in physical terms, but one which brings peace to the soul.  During the days of segregation in the southern states of the USA, Martin Luther King led a campaign of non-violent protest against the laws that oppressed the black people of that country.  One elderly African American woman refused to travel on segregated buses.  She thus preserved her dignity, and she literally helped her people take another step towards the kind of peace that can only come when there is justice.  When asked about her weariness at having to walk instead of ride on the bus, she replied, “My feets is tired, but my soul is at rest”.  The quest for peace, with justice, can be costly.  We have examples of brothers and sisters throughout the ages who have been willing to pay the cost.  Nelson Mandela was willing to spend 27 years in prison for his deep belief in justice for all people in South Africa.  True peace cannot come without justice.  It can be a long and stony road.  Mohandas K. Ghandi suffered a number of years in prison when he led a non-violent campaign against the colonial power, in an effort to gain independence for India.  In the end, his struggle cost him his life.  The same was true for Martin Luther King, who had a deep vision for peace and freedom.  In his acceptance speech on receiving the Nobel Prize for Peace, he said,

“I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere
can have three meals a day for their bodies,
education and culture for their minds,
and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits.
I believe that what self-centred men have torn down,
other-centred men can build up.
I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God
and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed,
and non-violent redemptive goodwill will proclaim the rule of the land.
And the lion and the lamb shall lie down together,
and every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree,
and none shall be afraid.
I still believe that we shall overcome.”

These are inspiring words, and, in some way, they echo the words of the prophet Micah.  The vision of peace is something that rings true in most of our hearts.  It is surely something that we all long for, deep down.  It may seem elusive.  However, it need not be.  It is something we can all work for. 

Where can we begin?  Let us each consider our own lives.  How can we improve our lives by bringing peace into those lives.  We can reflect on how we relate to other family members; or how we relate to our neighbours; or how we relate to those we work with or go to school or college with.  Do we talk with respect to others?  Are we generous to others, or more likely to deprive them in order to have more for ourselves?  Are we in the habit of tendering sincere apology when we are in the wrong? Are we willing to forgive wrongs, and move forward in search of peace for our souls?  These are deep and searching questions.  However, to address such questions seriously, and to opt for the wellbeing of others, can lead to a better world.  Such action can be on widely different scales: from within the family, to between nations.  Can the more well off people in a country take action to improve the lives of the poor.  This action may lead to a situation where wealth is not so great for the rich few; but that there is generally improved wellbeing in a country – with access to good food, clean water, education, good health care, and so on.  This is the road to stability and peace in any country.  Do wealthier countries need to uphold financial and trade systems that further impoverish poorer countries?  Do wars need to be started to destabilised countries rich in mineral wealth, so that this wealth can be stolen from those who need it to live?

We need to think about all these issues if we want a more peaceful world.  As we enter a new year – 2010 – and look back on the last year, we see a year of many wars and conflicts around the world.  Can we resolve to work for a better world?  Each person can do something in their own small way.   As the old black lady said when boycotting the injustice of segregated buses in the US - “My feets is tired, but my soul is at rest”.  A price worth paying.  We need to remember to strive under God.  That can make all the difference.  Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5: 9).

It is my prayer this New Year that we may all find some peace in our search for peace.  The small part played by each person can only have a wider effect.

I wish you all peace and wellbeing throughout this coming year.

Your friend and Bishop