Saturday, September 29, 2012

Silver's Commentaries on Life, Politics, and Religion

In seeking to determine whether or not having a pilgrim’s perspective concerning one’s life on this earth has a positive or negative impact on one’s surrounding political environment, it is vital to attempt to define what “pilgrimage” is all about. It connotes to being in transit, on a long journey. In the deepest theological sense as obtained from the Christian perspective, it is about “being in this world, but not of this world.” It shows an element of a traveller who is on his way, but has not reached his/her final destination yet. It is not only a physical, but also a spiritual activity- a lifestyle to either live or leave. From the onset, I will argue that bearing a pilgrim’s outlook in regard to one’s journey while on earth has a very tremendous impact on one’s surrounding political environment. History is full of examples of courageous men and women pilgrims who have contributed invaluably in this regard. This is due to the following reasons. A pilgrim perspective makes one realize that he or she is answerable to a greater authority than earthly political leaders. In the Christian perspective, the earthly political establishments are under God’s authority, and He has enjoined them to do His will on earth. However, in case the said establishments act in a way that does not conform to His will, those with a pilgrim perspective have not only the duty, but also the obligation to advocate for sanity. The above point can be driven home by examples from the non-violence campaigns of Mahatma Ghandi, unarguably one of the greatest pilgrims in Britain-led India. He rose up to the great expectations of the day and advocated for Indian Independence, inspired non-violent civil disobedience movements, civil rights and championed for freedom not only in India, but across the world, and his legacy leaves on up to present day. Secondly, a pilgrim perspective to life gives one the humility to realize that his or her life on earth is just a means to a greater end (after life) and not an end in itself. Therefore, all that a pilgrim does on this journey is just in preparation of the greater life to come. In the Christian perspective, Jesus Christ uses a very challenging phrase, “the salt of the earth.” This ought to constantly remind Christian pilgrims of their role on earth-to restore saltiness (preservation). In Martin Luther King Junior, we see an example of a very inspirational Christian pilgrim who laid his life to take on the political powers of the day as he fought prevailing injustices of the day (mainly racism and the American-Vietnamese war). Using Non-violence activism, he managed to rally such a great following of fellow men and women who had understood the concept of pilgrimage on earth. (For example Jesse Jackson, James Bevel, James Farmer Junior, Mahalia Jackson to mention but a few) A life of pilgrimage gives one sense of purpose to be able to contribute positively to the rehabilitation of such a broken world. For instance, Mother Theresa was a very ardent preacher and practitioner of love without borders. She had observed that if we all loved (even when hurt by those we love), the world would be a better place to leave in. All these compassionate activities were based on her understanding that life was way much more than what we enjoy while on earth. If this can be practiced and upheld in the current local and global political environment, perhaps we could see fewer wars, less corruption, less injustice and reduced suffering for mankind. A life centered on pilgrimage makes one realize that his or her calling is about service to others, and not exploitation. One may not easily think of amassing material wealth that “will be eaten and consumed by moths and thieves”, but rather storing his or treasures in service of others for eternal reward. In Christianity, and human history, Jesus Christ offers a very perfect example of life of pilgrimage. He washed his disciples feet (a sign of service), and castigated the political class of the day for being unjust to the poor, orphans, widows and exploiting the needy. He lived a humble life-the son of man, who did not even have where to put his head! A pilgrim perspective towards earthly life gives one the boldness and courage to tackle injustice in a given political environment. By having a perspective about how things ought to be at the end of the journey, one is empowered to clear the way so as to reach his her final destination as a soldier who fought a good fight. The example of Martin Luther King Junior and his compatriots is a very humbling one. His conscience convicted him, and he believed in a cause-seeing the Negroes in America at equal status with the Whites. He believed that God’s will and wish for human beings transcended racial barriers. With this in mind, he set forth and rallied those who thought like him in Montgomery, Birmingham, Florida, Alabama, up to Washington DC in activism that would lead to a repeal of Racist Laws. He had believed in his pilgrim conscience that a man who breaks an earthly Law that conscience tells him is not right, does no wrong in the eyes of God. In “Beyond Vietnam”, Luther took on the then sitting Government for causing untold suffering and misery to the Vietnam people in what he termed as “history’s most cruel and senseless wars!” This is the true life of a pilgrim who had discovered that the human race is inextricably bound up in an intertwined strand of being, that when one of us directly suffers, all of us indirectly suffer. In a nutshell, having a pilgrim’s perspective concerning one’s life on this earth has a very tremendous impact on one’s surrounding political environment. However, it may come with very unbearable consequences (ranging from imprisonment to death), but when pursuing what is right and just (as opposed to political opportunism and manipulation of the people); it is worth paying the price.

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