God believes in you

In 'God has a dream', Desmond Tutu relays the story of a Russian priest and an atheist. The atheist rambled off a list of reasons for his beliefs and concluded, 'Therefore, I do not believe in God.' The priest's response was simple, but very powerful, 'That is OK, because God believes in you. He relies on you...' Tutu then proceeds to tell how we are God's partners.

I have been thinking about this all day. If I chose my team, I would firstly be sure to pick the cream of the crop -nobody with any defects. I would then make sure that I have at least one flawless back-up plan. Thirdly, I would be involved in strategy, every step of the way.

Yet, God chose us as His partners. He relies on us. God chose me. He relies on me. I am His partner.

Tonight, I am humbled that He chose me, a shard in a broken Claypot... to carry His message... to be His partner... to give something to eat to the hungry... a glass of water to the thirsty... a jacket to someone trying to survive our winter...

God loves us. God loves you. God loves me. And we ARE His plan in this world. Nelson Mandela said we need to be the change we wish to see in this world. Ironically, I think it was God's plan. We need to be the agents of God's change in our world.

How do we do it? I think one relationship at a time. I do not have many answers. The more I read and think, the more questions I have. The one thing I do know is that we are it. There is no back-up plan.

God has a dream

I am white in a post-Apartheid South Africa. I am often overwhelmed with guilt because of that. Even though Nelson Mandela became our president in the first election I voted in and I never voted for an apartheid-government, I benefited from being white.

We had the best beaches. We had running water and electricity. My parents had better jobs as that were considered 'schooled' because they are white. I went to a university with good lecturers. I went to good (government) schools where we had stationary and books. My birth was registered. My parents' marriage was registered. My whole family have identity documents and passports. I could go anywhere - no restrictions applied.

More than what I had, is the fact that others did not have and still battle to get what we take for granted.

This morning, I started listening to "God has a dream" by Desmond Tutu (written and read by him)... and instead of condemnation I heard this old black man say: "God loves you. God cares for you. God has a dream..." Suddenly, he did not sound as dangerous as we were told when we were young. Suddenly, he sounded like an old and vulnerable messenger from God. "God loves you. God cares for you. God has a dream..."

I will probably write more posts about the book and this strange journey we are on. I believe that God has a dream. I believe that God wants His sun to shine over black and white. I want to want to (sic) love God and live His dream in our beautiful country. I look forward to the journey.

"God loves you. God cares for you. God has a dream..."