Over the last week I've been reading this book which is a collection of writings, sermons and speeches by Desmond Tutu during his time in the public eye. I haven't finished it yet, but boy! what courage this man has.
My brother read this book before me and he also commented on Mr Tutu's courage, stating that he felt the erstwhile Anglican Archbishop was even more courageous that our dad. At that point, I had to read this book. Not that I think my dad was the most courageous dude that ever lived but, that was high commendation.
Mr Tutu (I can call him Mr right?) is clearly a man who is not afraid to say what he feels or champion causes he strongly believes in; even in the face of immense pressure/criticism/threat to life. Not kidding. This is a man who, only a few days ago said he would rather not go a homophobic heaven because he doesn't serve a homophobic God. Straight up middle finger to the Christian establishment.
But that's not the reason why I've kept on reading him though, even though I admit to loving this about him. I've continued with this book, because his belief and take on God is almost on all fours as mine. I don't think God is the prerogative of any singular religion, most especially Christians. That for me is a laughable concept as Christians draw their root from a religion that worships this same God in a different way. Therefore, if one other mode of a relationship with God exists, who are we to say there isn't another, or another?
However, this concept was fully formed when a read a book back on 2010. The book is surprisingly not a religious thesis or document. It was Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Yes people. I came to the conclusion that God is not my prerogative, neither is He the prerogative of any religion after reading the memoirs of a woman, who on a journey to finding peace in her life, also found God. Her description of her spiritual experience in India was so relatable to my burgeoning Christian experience in my little corner in Warri, that I came to the conclusion that if someone else on the other side of the world made such a spiritual connection with God through meditation, it had to real, pure and perhaps the same God.
We as Christians or practitioners of any other religion must realise that God is God, and He is free to reveal Himself to anyone in anyway that pleases Him. Such that I can not and do not under rate the reality of another's God experience or relationship. If only others in this temporal world of ours could come to that conclusion, we would be so much closer to that sought after oasis, "peace on earth."
I haven't finished the book yet, but I have already developed a healthy respect for this fine man of faith.
By the Buzz...
While reading, I kept coming across references to Martin Luther King Jr and decided to give some of his work a proper read (and I'm meant to be working). So I ran a google search and read the Drum Major Instinct, the I Have a Dream Speech and When Peace Becomes Obnoxious.
I may not agree with all he has said but I must confess that man was blessed with a gift. A true orator and an inspiration to many
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