Today's Black History Month devotional is "SPEAKING OF GOD"
by Rev Vernal Savage.
I am reflecting on my Muslim friend questions.
Sometime ago I was at an international gathering of nations of the world. Some of the participants from Korea who barely spoke much English had a powerful grasp of one of our eminent musicians, Bob Marley. When they heard that I am from Jamaica they all responded with the comment, “Bob Marley.” Also, with one of his most famous songs, “One Love.”
Fast forward to several years later to discover that my brother who migrated to live in Germany was part of a band that performed in East and West Germany, when it was at that time divided. He also, started wearing dreadlocks. He shared the music of love and moved away from the his traditional Christianity upbringing. When I became a priest, he was one of the first to ask me questions that I answered as best I could but reflecting back on those times appreciated.
Recently, I heard in the news that Reggae has been added to a list of international cultural treasures which the United Nations has deemed worthy of protecting and promoting. This is such an irony because Bob Marley’s belief in God comes through his music. It a religious instrument of the cause that he in part used to worship God. It is such an ancient theme.
From John’s epistle in the bible it states:
15 All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. 16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.
What has caused Bob Marley’s music to be so distilled with that sentiment reflected from the bible that is now loved the world over? Probably has something to do with his own identity and birth. Wrestling with issues like that takes one places that you would never expect.
It is surprising to read, hear, and see the negative response to various human beings from around the world. Though we say we are a diverse and welcoming culture. We have many First Nations people to speak to their experience.
This Black History Month, we are all invited to take on this challenge to at least speak to something of our identity
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In order to speak something of our identity, we need to be self-aware. Thanks Rev Savage for your insight.
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