More on Zimbabwe

Death is stalking Zimbabwe’s children, as a potentially catastrophic famine gathers momentum. Aid agencies say that half the population, about five million people, face starvation, two-thirds of children are out of school and water shortages have led to deadly cholera outbreaks. Jan Raath Times online

Over the last while I have posted once a month on Zimbabwe, July, August, September and now October. Why can't things get better instead of worse? Even with a supposed power sharing deal brokered by former South African Prime minister, Mbeki, there is no change and my earlier posting (here) doesn't show anything better only now the feared disaster in on the doorstep. The diseases which tell us of hunger, kwashiorkor, marasmus and pellagra, are now easy to see. The Times reports

When Zimbabwe’s Government does spend money on the health sector it does not help the people. Three months ago the Central Bank allocated $5 million (£3 million,) which was used to buy imported cars for the state’s 100 or so specialist doctors.

The number of starving is 5 million, half the population. I can't even get my head around a number like that. Try and imagine 100 of something, your brain can't hold that, but perhaps more than the entire population of your city is starving, not just hungry. How can Mugabe even think about this? We're not just talking about the poor or the peasants anymore. The middle classes are starving and even teachers are joining their pupils in receiving a bowl of basic food porridge. Starvation also heaps coals on the heads of those with HIV/AIDS because the drugs require food and nutrition and a third of the population is infected.

I've been watching the first episode of The Century of the Self which tracks the influence of Freud and his family on Western values and consumerism and propaganda, public relations, and advertising. Freud's basic identification of hidden deep sexual and aggressive forces in the human psyche might be helpful if it hadn't been for his Americanized nephew, Edward Bernays, who promoted fundamentally the sexual material. Humans have deep aggressive tendencies which seems true but surely we should also take seriously the lust for power which even Machiavelli seems not to have fully acknowledged. Politicians seem incapable of truly caring about the people or the citizens rather more about remaining in power or gaining power.

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. Proverbs 25:21

Simplicity and Poverty

... bloggers everywhere will publish posts that discuss poverty in some way. By all posting on the same day we aim to change the conversation that day, to raise awareness, start a global discussion and add momentum to an important cause.

I love it when people around become concerned to buck the trends of the world around me. Tuesday Night prayer meeting was a moment of inspiration. Rather than looking to buy a huge house in suburbia with equally huge mortgage and a need to run at least 2 cars because there is no public transit, life can be different with different goals. We can make a difference however small. Today is Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty. I decided to be part of this because I know some people actually follow my blog. (Click here for the main site)

Ever since I heard Richard Foster speak and read his book The Freedom of Simplicity I have been challenged. Recently I have been blogging and reading about de-cluttering and trying to live more simply. I've been reading the "100 thing challenge" (see here) Dave Bruno is attempting something amazing "By November 12, 2008 I will only have 100 personal things. I will live with only 100 personal things for one full year, until November 12, 2009." This doesn't include shared things with his wife or daughter and the household but it is still challenging.

Also I've been reading Clutter 101: the definitive guide to de-cluttering your life (See here) I learned in reading that if we de-clutter properly, we can save a lot of money because we can become more frugal and careful about what stuff we bring into the home. "Why add to all your existing junk by buying more unnecessary stuff?" But saving money means we might have more disposable income but not necessarily to spend on ourselves. It is said that John Wesley despite increases in income spent no more money than when he was poorer, the rest he gave away.

"However, I must provide for my children." Certainly. But how? By making them rich? ... Leave them enough to live on, not in idleness and luxury, but by honest industry. ... What does it signify, whether you leave behind you ten thousand pounds, or ten thousand shoes and boots? O leave nothing behind you! Send all you have before you into a better world! Lend it, lend it all unto the Lord, and it shall be paid you again! John Wesley Bristol, September 21, 1790.

I learned one thing important, it not always about being cheap. With even my finances sometimes it is better to buy one thing which is good and classic so much as to last many many years rather than the passing fad or trend which is obsolete in the moment. Not to buy that particular on credit helps to aid care and consideration because the time delay allows earnest careful determination.

Somehow it is a fallacy that being a consumer gives jobs and money to the poor. It seems to me an excuse to justify a constant urge to consume and shop. In fact market forces in the capitalist system require greed at an essential component and also to buy from the cheapest producer and not necessarily to be just in getting the right price. Capitalist economics has no loyalty to buyers or consumers, rather only to the company and the company owners whether private or share-owners.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

Yet more on acedia

... the social consequences of acedia's pervasive presence in our consumer-oriented society, where distractions not only divert us from routines like daily psalter readings and housekeeping chores, in which we can find God's presence, but also keep us from recognizing the spiritual impoverishment that results from such habitual scatteredness. Dennis Okholm It's Half-Past Twelve Somewhere

Acedia is not merely slothness, laziness but avoidance seeking distraction. The quotes come from Okholm's review of Kathleen Norris' new book Acedia & Me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer's Life, is poignant. and gives a candid outline to the history of the term both across the centuries and her own life.

The danger of a sin like acedia is that it can become "mortal"—that is, it can prevent God's grace from transforming our lives: "When we are convinced that we are beyond the reach of grace, acedia has done its work." That is why Norris correctly places acedia in a category opposed to love, rather than under the heading of mere apathy.

My Anglican tradition has kept in mind both sin as omission and commission, i.e. not doing or doing. Yet these thread raises for me key ideas that to prevent the activity of God in your life is to sin under this definition. Not to allow God to work, whether to decide not to or perhaps not feel the need is a sin a denial of relationship. Thus it is opposed to love not merely the opposite to love. Not even the act of loving another but to the reception of love. Thus acedia denies and reject that God can and does love you and me.

But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death. Psalm 141:8

People who reflect

The more we become people of action and responsibility in our community, the more we must become people of contemplation. If we do not nurture our deep emotional life in prayer hidden in God, if we do not spend time in silence and if we do not know how to take time from the presence of our brothers and sisters, we risk becoming embittered. It is only to the extent that we nurture our own hearts that we can keep interior freedom. People who are hyperactive, fleeing from their deep selves and their wound, become tyrannical and their exercise of responsibility only creates conflict Jean Vanier, Community and Commitment

L'Arche is a inspiration to us and a challenge. Jean Vanier's vision of community is one of value but conscious that busyness is our worst enemy. Friday I has a good long conversation with a Chinese scholar about love and duty and how they are basically two ways of looking at or two sides of the same thing. We had been talking about schoolmates and where they had ended up and about a family who had given up everything to care for a child with a degenerative muscle disorder instead of sending him off to an institution. I pointed out that frequently humans in every society aren't good at looking after their disadvantaged or disabled even in our own country accessibility is built into building codes. However if no-one had taking the time with Stephen Hawking then theoretical science would be a poorer place. I am not making any comments about his faith or lack of it but he is valued despite disability. Perhaps his disability forced deeper and deeper reflection because he cannot really flee from himself nor distract himself.

We also had cause to look at happiness and discuss its relationship to satisfaction. Life can be disappointing and even cruel. Life circumstances can make us perhaps embarrassed but if we are truly happy then you cannot be ashamed, only embarrassed. We need to nurture our own hearts to find this kind of freedom. This week I've meditated and also contemplated the phrase God's eternal love in 1 Kings 10:9 Strangely I have been singing his love endure for ever for years but the phrase has been partially or completely meaningless until recently when I began to embrace the emotional consequences and the life orientation that flows from that. Perhaps because the Queen of Sheba said this to Solomon is why I pause and wonder. Perhaps because God's love is for all of us.

Because of the LORD's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness. 1 Kings 10:9