101 Days to Pray

Yesterday we marched – and marched. The normal ‘Murphy’s Law’ states that ‘Anything that can go wrong will go wrong’. There are two Sudanese variations: ‘Anything that can be delayed will be delayed’ and ‘Anything that can be changed will be changed.’ Both variations applied today. In Church on Sunday, one announcement said that our walk to launch the 101 Days of Prayer Towards a Peaceful Referendum would start at 8:00am, the other said 8:30am. We opted for 8:30am and prudently did not turn up until 8:50am. Actually we weren’t prudent enough as the walk did not actually begin until 9:30am – but I’m not really complaining as everyone was in good spirits and the cloud cover kept the temperature at a pleasant level.

The marchers walked happily and many onlookers came out to watch. The police band beat out a lively rhythm and after about half an hour the leaders turned at the designated spot to head for the so-called ‘Peace Square’ where there would be speeches. But suddenly we came to a halt and the parade was directed back to the road we had just left. The people marching from the other end of town had not arrived. So the sudden decision was made that we would walk on towards them. Inevitably the two walking groups met head on not far from the main market near the centre of town. Both groups stopped. Small problem there of where to go now! Eventually the other group wheeled around, the police band moved forward, the other [...]

The Priority is Peace

In January 2011, there is to be a referendum with Southern Sudanese voting for either a unified Sudan or secession. The referendum was brokered as a key factor in reaching the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005. In the South, the feeling is running strongly in favour of secession. My sympathy is with the poor people of Southern Sudan who have suffered for centuries from violence, slave trading and oppression. The south itself, however, has no real unity other than fractured opposition to the north. Secession could quite possibly lead to more intertribal violence and, maybe, anarchy. The president of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Rudolph Deng has cautioned:“Many people do not realize that more southern Sudanese were killed by other southern Sudanese than were killed by those from the north.” I fear that there is an unreal hope in the South that a vote for secession will deliver more prosperity, more opportunity, better education and health care. The agreement for the referendum came as part of the process of ending the long war. The priority then was to find a way to bring about peace. The priority now is to maintain the peace. Whatever the result of the referendum, be it unity or division, it is what happens after the referendum that will be critical. The south depends heavily on Muslim traders for the supply of goods. That infrastructure is very important. If the vote is for secession, the south will still need the north as a good neighbour. Is the north prepared [...]

Decision Time

If you’re like me you probably felt a little frustrated during the press conference called by the two Independents, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott.  “When are they going give me the answer I’m waiting to hear?” was the question going through my mind.   Over the past 17 days I’ve heard various comments about the actions of the Independents.  “These guys are holding the country to ransom.” and “What’s taking them so long to make a decision?” were the most common questions and statements made by my friends.  I believe that in explaining the process they went through to come to their decision what the Independents were practicing was a form of discernment. In the Christian tradition, however, discernment is more than just a process you go through.

Important decisions take time and prayer.  Instant answers aren’t always the best answers. There is a sifting process you go through as you determine the important criteria you have to keep in mind in coming to your decision.   For the individual it’s about determining which line of action will allow me to grow in my relationship with God. The challenging part comes when you have to make a decision between two good alternatives.  It’s not easy but it come be done.  It is a skill you develop and hone as you practice it more. This goes hand in hand with a daily encounter with God in prayerfully reading Scripture.

Peace,

Br Mark

Potholes and Patience

As if the roads are not bad enough already, someone seems determined to turn them into an obstacle course. Roadside, drainage ditches have been deepened recently by an excavator. The soil was not removed but simply dumped on the edge of the roads making them narrower and muddier. Sometimes, major roads are randomly closed off for the excavator to work. There are no detour signs but one is just expected to find another way.

With the roadside so muddy, every person, dog, cow, pig, goat & duck chooses to join the donkey carts, horse carts, bikes, wheelbarrows (carrying water), cars and trucks in the centre of the road which tends to be firmer. No need to look first! If you get there first you have the right of way – so the reality seems. You may be coming from the opposite direction and overtaking on what I would call the ‘wrong side’ of the road, but why worry about that?

Even if I were younger, I wouldn’t be looking for a ride on the dodgem cars in a fun park. Here I can have it all for free – weaving and sliding in between pedestrians, carts, vehicles, animals and abundant children, not to mention pushbikes, motor bikes (no helmets required) and wheelbarrows. I have noticed it is easy for a pushbike rider to become unbalanced if the bike begins to wobble when there are five, 20 litre, plastic gerry cans of water tied on to it. Watch out for the sudden lurch, one learns!

When roads dry out [...]