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Immanuel Baptist "On the Journey" Articles |
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| On the Journey Until our souls rejoice and our spirits soar! I watched an inspiring program on television Monday evening. The program chronicled the creation of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. With the opening of this school and the selection of the first class of students, the visionary work by Ms. Winfrey now faces the challenges all dreams encounter as they confront reality. Ms. Winfrey dreams of transforming Africa through the gifts of the young women of Africa. The program reveals Ms. Winfrey’s passion for her vision. Her spirit, mind, and hands have touched every aspect of this project from the design of the school, to the selection of native artists, to the girls’ uniforms. She interviewed every young girl competing for a space in the first class. Of course, Ms. Winfrey’s financial commitment is significant. Yet, beyond her investment in the school and its students, she has also promised them a university education when they successfully complete the Leadership Academy. I congratulate Ms. Winfrey on her commitment to her vision and the investment she has made in the lives of young women in Africa. I appreciate and celebrate people who dream big dreams for the sake of humanity. Yet, on Monday evening, the stories of the young women were the most inspiring aspect of the program. Their stories dwarfed all of the accomplishments of Ms. Winfrey. Their personal stories captured the best of the human spirit. As I listened to their stories, tears streamed down my face, and sometimes I muffled a sob. These young women come from impoverished backgrounds. Many of them live in homes with no electricity, running water, or indoor plumbing. Several of the girls spoke of eating only one meal a day. They live in neighborhoods stalked by violence. One young girl get up every morning at 4 o’clock to walk to a bus stop where she will board a bus take her to school. As she walks, she prays to God that she will not be attacked, raped, or killed. Many of the girls are being raised by grandparents. One young girl had no idea who her father might be. Two sisters, at ages 4 and 5, watched in disbelief, as their father killed their mother and then himself. One girl described how her grandmother worked very hard, but often had to borrow money to pay for her schooling. Several of the girls had lost their mothers to disease or violence. Remembering her mother, one girl wept, as she spoke of her mother’s love. Despite such circumstances, these young girls possessed remarkable spirits. They may have lived in physical poverty, but their spirits soared. There may have been material deprivation, but there was no spiritual poverty. They wanted to become leaders and to make a difference in their world. Despite their sufferings, they were hopeful. With wounded hearts, they wrote poetry, short stories, and created inspiring art. Hard work did not frighten them. They understood the opportunities education held for them. These girls were articulate expressing feelings, dreams, and hopes that touched my heart. Through this program, I realized once again that where there is extreme physical poverty there can be immense spiritual wealth. The converse of this statement is also true—where there is immense material wealth there can be extreme spiritual poverty. There can be great hopes where we expect despair, and there can be despair in a land of great opportunities. Recently, I have found myself among those who mourn as I have read newspaper and magazine articles describing young adults in America. A recent article described how for many youth the only criterion for a successful life is the amount of money they earn and the material possessions they acquire. An Associate Press article on Monday of this week, boldly stated: “Today’s college students are more narcissistic and self-centered than their predecessors, according to a comprehensive study by five psychologists who worry that the trend could be harmful to personal relationships and American society.” Of course, these are generalizations and there are a multitude of exceptions, but as a parent, minister, and citizen, these developments concern me greatly. Though I am alarmed, I am not surprised. The evidence of a spiritual hunger in American is undeniable. It may be that our spiritual poverty is not only measured in crime rates, drug abuse, and addictions, but also, in the materialism that dominates our society. What kind of world are we creating when one young man kills another over a pair of athletic shoes? What values have we given the young when they are tempted to choose selling drugs for a living over education and vocational training? In the midst of wealth that the world has never known before, the absence of spiritual vitality leaves us with a frightening world. What are we to do? We must dream dreams through which we hope to transform society and the world. Yes, like Ms. Winfrey in South Africa, we must invest in our youth. As believers, we must mourn fully trusting that we will be comforted. We are people who believe that a great light shines on those who dwell in the land of darkness. Let us mourn and pray and work together until our souls rejoice and our spirits soar!jamie |
Website last updated: Thursday, March 1, 2007 Website Related Questions/Comments: Chris Cash-ccash@vci.net |
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Immanuel Baptist Church - 3465 Buckner Lane - Paducah, KY, 42001 - 270.443.5306 - www.immanuel-paducah.org |