The divine flame will light the way, where self-help falters. Enabling vision is essential light. Every victorious journey requires guidance. Sound political leadership is important in governance. Strong rulers of nations are servants in spirit who enter into the ‘Lord’s Joy’.
Necessary political counsel for governance may be found in the answer to the question: Is politics sacred or profane? The answer to the question will settle the issue of where governance fits in the fortunes of nations;- as the nations seek lasting harvests from ‘sprouts that blossom’.
Originality in leadership thinking is based on leadership belief. Those who believe that proceedings must only be driven by personal profits arrive at a destination invariably different than those who make alliance with Wisdom. Not all bread is sweet. Those in the former camp are corrupt without feeling guilty; whereas those in the latter camp would wear sackcloth for service, if need be.
Corruption is not a victimless crime!
In systemic corruption, the poor are unduly burdened and the rich and poor are both insecure; health care is non-existent, basic housing is a luxury, justice is denied, rights are abused, hunger abounds, citizens are hopeless, and the population is ready to flee its borders at the slightest report of an ‘open gate’. Essentially, growth plans are thwarted because Leadership has grown mad with enjoyment.
The ‘New Africa’ is in need of men and women steeped in discernment-; those who would consecrate to service the national treasures of silver and gold. They ‘can’-; because they are also armed with knowledge and a desire for a new history for the continent. Recognition is central to understanding, and the ‘hammer’ has to be in right hands for right usage.
These two points are noteworthy: a) if politics is profane, then the best practitioners ought to be brigands by Law, b) if politics is sacred, then the Leaders ought to be servants with corresponding level of authority guided by Wisdom-; always ready to pasture the national flock to greatness.The Law may not be contrary to its purpose.
The scepter of the corrupt cannot bear good fruit. For lack of good governance, the people falter. Leadership is essential to Africa’s growth, and there cannot be progress without peace. Peace and Justice are inseparable. The political cultures in African nations must be made right by encouraging stewardship that uproots injustice while restraining the pride of vice.
The heretofore frenzied rogue approach to politics merely ‘snuffs the wind’ in false ardor. That approach is not faithful enough to be just.The political shepherd’s head need be adorned by Wisdom’s mitre.
There is peace and progress with fair policy. Sound leadership can only come from unsullied or (repentant) political leaders: custodians of Justice. We are always generally underestimating who we are. One may not discount the value of the inner Man.Wisdom is everywhere evident.
Years ago, on a visit to see some friends (aspiring Doctors) at a teaching hospital, a man hurriedly came out of the clinic as I passed by. He was a father whose child was ill. He had traveled some distance to the hospital, only to be told his child would not be receiving medical treatment without posting a cash deposit toward the cost of the care. His visage was covered with pain and turmoil, as he fervently besought his Maker for help in near personal terms. He’d walk around in circles, look up and point up; the figure of a father cast in hope that ‘God is with us’.
He was as fervent a believer as i ever saw. (As a public confession, i was initially indifferent. I did not want to be conned by anyone while on vacation). I was a stone’s throw from the garlanded kiorsk. The brilliance of the lighted kiorsk beckoned. I knew what cold refreshments awaited me, as i quietly tried to restrain a ‘pavlovian tendency’.
Instinctively, i mentally took note of how much money i had left in my pockets. Yet so affecting was the sight, I gave the father of that child what little I could. He thanked me and shot right back into the clinic.
We are examining the sacredness or profaneness of a system that induces such paralyzing hopelessness in love’s bosom. How does the true seed of faith germinate in such soil? The continent needs healing. The divide is clear: disciplined freedom and peace or war and injustice. In either case, there is need for resource and sense.
Resource and Sense
There is a need to harness the resources of Africa (in Africa and the Diaspora) for development. Hence, the need for the creation of ‘A New Africa’. It is desirable to power-up the Continent both regionally and sectorally across economies. Neither phenomenally, because it is fashionable nor dogmatic as a result of creed;- the fairest course is a journey in Wisdom’s love. Always peacefully; and with Wisdom, the nations ought to set forth the wind to ‘winnow and to cleanse’ putrefied political cultures across the continent. Armed with knowledge, we are prepared to defend Justice, and resist those who would draw ‘water to the siege’ (a fruitless exercise).
Regional development
Regarding regional empowerment of the Continent; the suggestion is simple. Arguably, the bigger countries need the smaller countries for success because of Africa’s kinship relations and border contiguity issues. Differential developments across the continent are due largely to national emphasis on particular skills and/or trade pattern(s) often with sensitivity to territorial ethnicity.
Some countries in Africa have more emphasis on technology development, others less so.Countries need to diversify their economic bases. Until then, there is a more immediately beneficial approach. Regional development entails using existing infrastructure(s) to bring about new ones. Intra-continental skills transfer is imperative.
The New Dawn and ‘A New Spirit’:
‘A New Africa’ entails drawing on skills and infrastructures from different countries to tighten the knot of hope within nations: a movement of personnel and resources across borders to power Africa’s growth. Across the continent, it is desirable to spread the splendor of peace through dialogue, always bearing in mind that it is preferable to uproot the weeds ‘at harvest time’. Ruinous courses or sets must be reset by peace sheaves.
Peace must inform policy!
There is the caveat that the secrets of the hearts are known only to the ‘Guide of nations’.The better timing of actions are often inadvertently preordained by prayers.Holy Wisdom is inner directed, different from worldly wisdom. The latter, in heat or haste would ‘cast pearls before swines’ (Mathew 7:6).
There is a difference between public service politics and self-service politics. The unjust cannot be allies with Wisdom. Recognition is central to understanding.The art of politics should make straight the path of peace through service.
And so, we agree!
I knew a Man once; Still do, who told me to just prepare the hearts and not depend on individual strength.
Rowing with Rage:
The Pope’s visit to Iraq is noteworthy, years after height of the heart-rending sectarian conflict in Iraq. The conflict was so unnerving that I was moved to make enquiry. The Storyteller gave clue.
Following the Storyteller’s counsel, I made observation, as a Chronicler and a mystic of Christ. This is how i remembered it when Mosul was under siege:
Rowing with Rage: Iraq and the Rafter’s Whirlwind.
The recent history of Iraq suggests that guns and tanks do not win battles.The inner Man (or Woman) drives. “Is there sufficient sovereignty in Iraq to quicken or kinetize defense?
Where there are lives at stake, we almost wish to be wrong in our observations and predictions. We feel too keenly the pain in Iraq. The hearts of the victims of intolerance keep vigil until the rafter’s whirlwind blows over.
It is mid-day in Iraq, and some distance before the ‘shadow lengthens’. The brick mold is melting. The castles in Ramadi are daily turned to ruins as the impious attempt to form a state out of nothing.
The immediate object of our concern are those victims of the sword whose wailings are not lost to their Maker; this Maker whose “Spirit is in all things”. We urge these victims to take heart and even now persuade them of the wisdom of one of their own: St Isaac, at first monk in Kurdistan, later Bishop of Nineveh, Iraq (near Mosul), also known as Isaac of Syria, and who died in Iran.
That seventh century icon of piety wrote: “The fruits of the inner Man begin only with the shedding of tears.” The Bishop of Nineveh was “Strong.”
He had a simple thesis:self-mastery is necessary to the contemplation of Wisdom.He constantly insisted on the necessity of mercy and forgiveness. Iraq-if it is to survive- will need a lot of these.
Born in Qatar, the Bishop’s connection with Iraq, Syria, and Iran is noteworthy as a pointer to the truth. He traveled peculiarly.The truth finds home in vessels; the revelatory character in all things.
We take some comfort in the words of Emerson: The relations of the Soul to the Divine Spirit are so pure that it is profane to seek to interpose helps.
Courage! The burden of reconciliation rests on you. It is a recognizable fact that not every setback in theatre is defeat.Yet this much is clear: The inner Man (or woman) drives.One must believe in something to move something.All things spiritual have a physical reflection.In infinite Oneness, attention is drawn to the unity of faiths for peace. The tradition is Paulinian (Acts17:23).
Cultivating the truth of the ‘nation’ requires time. One cannot stir up love before its own time. The stirring up of love in Iraq is especially difficult with a contrary wind blowing.Rowing with rage, ISIL has already declared that it plans to forage in unknown lands enveloped in a whirlwind of hopelessness.
We urge a return to ‘Hope and Life’; a reconciliation with God!
Wisdom’s Eternal Benison: Light Always and Truth
‘A Very Good Morning’, said the amiable gentleman as he strode by the bare-chested sunbather on a beach bench. The aforementioned gentleman had only a few minutes past; completed some buttered croissant, and a loaded cheese omelette carefully managed by the Chef. Cane in hand, and sweets to mollify an aftertaste, he sauntered easily onward this crisp Saturday morning.
He repeated his greetings, as he generously surveyed the blue sky with a smile: ‘A very good morning’.
‘Come, now!’ said the other. ‘It is a matter of opinion, Sir’. The sun-bather was ceremoniously resplendent in shorts, as he lounged on the beach bench.
The ‘errant’ sunbather was fully aware of his own dignity, despite his shorts. Same day, and same hour;-under the same sun: two competing visions. It is impossible to reach Vision, but by Faith.
Such is the Maker’s Truth because He made Men (and Women) upright only through mercy, and not by diverse schemes. This is ‘Truth’ as a strong tower, and refuge for the righteous. In the Land;-between truth and falsehoods, there are walls of competing visions tempered by experiences.
The same who gave water from rock remains forever; – and His Spirit is unrestricted. Without a doubt, the traveler is not without directions. From olden times, it is the unfailing case that some experiences of prophets and saints often represent the condition(s) of the Land especially when the Land is troubled; – and the former feel it keenly.
We desire to touch on the politics of the moment, as we establish the ‘Word’ in Science. We have a steady fulcrum in the ‘Word’; – a center of gravity in a world challenged by entropy. This is entropy as a measure of the change from order to disorder because of the neglect of Wisdom.
Our method is interdisciplinary. We are focused on Truth as demonstrable belief. We advocate a determined and a timely rise from the ashes of faithlessness. The ‘Word’ does good to the faithful as a light of the lamp; – Wisdom’s Eternal Benison.
Truth is unchanging; and Love is useful both for reason and counsel. Love is the flocks’ shield.A strategic pivot to peace is always helpful. Reason is a matter of adding one thing to another, and we purpose to remain true to trust. Context is clarity.
Things are the way they are, because “He is”; – And so ‘I AM’. Every condition provides opportunity for Wisdom or a re-thinking by a reach beyond the self: a reach for the ‘Word’ in Law and Spirit.
The politics of the moment is revealed in the striving of the hearts. In the affairs of Men (and Women), the truth is self-evident. Still, we may particularly discern the truth by use of metanomic or actual inclusionary or exclusionary words spoken or written as well as deeds effected.
The pace and race of life consists of stirred sentiments. All things add up for ill or good. Still, we look about us and ‘He’ who made all things, and placed the sands by the banks of the seas; – we call ‘Lord’. Wisdom is the sum of the ‘seen’ and ‘unseen’: a giant leap beyond the barren metal.
The states’ system has its peculiarities. Arbitrariness is injurious to the system. Institutional strength depends on internal systemic cohesion based on interests. This is the ‘Reason’ in International Politics.
Faith summons us to Reason!
Especially, regarding International Peace and Security we must appeal to the nobler virtues of our nature rather than the seamy side of character. Truth and Trust matter.
We ought draw strength from a renewal of spirit as we press on to constantly meet the ‘Word’ in Peace. We are uplifted by grace and strengthened by a Spiritual reaffirmation of our commitment to faith and reason. The Spirit rules over all things.
Political entropic thermodynamics is no exception. Disputations against Wisdom’s counsel are clearly the reason for the current political disorder and uncertainties. It is natural to bring out of the mouth what one has swallowed. Wisdom’s way is unique. It (Wisdom) alone can give life.
A wise man (or woman) will hear and increase learning. Like iron, the strength of the nations are in ‘it’; – security is bolstered by community love, and not through a tempest of isolation. If ‘He’ consists in all things, and we know that ‘He’ does; lasting prosperity may not be found in a bird’s cage of deceit. Communication is essential, and rebellion is counterintuitive. Love is Truth.
In the continuum of Life (body and soul), entropy is a challenge. In progress between origin and destination, disorder is also an invitation to peace. More knowledge or information is always useful nutrient for good growth. Faith and patience are desirable qualities. Regarding Faith, the question is whether the interpretation of Wisdom’s contemporary way may lean on strategic unity or strategic isolation.
Love lives, and Leads!
Political Leadership ought to represent the conscience of the people. In-country and out of country harness of power require aggregate alignment of disparate interests. However, the points of alignment also represent the strategic lines of fissure. Self-will is counterintuitive especially when Nationalism conflicts with International Security realities. The political system is dynamic because of the people and environment. In and with the environment; – the interaction among and between peoples, point to a dominion of idea(s). Peace is priceless, and the system is in search for equilibrium.
The singular and compelling US foreign policy enabler is the national interest, especially the Survival Interest. Amidst a disordered or entropic International System, perfidy usually comes from within due to corrupt allurement.
The nation’s inheritance should be guided by Wisdom, and moderation is essential. The greenery will always blossom in a well-watered grassy lawn. It is important to separate the sin from the sinner. The nation is drawn in different directions, and the Truth is essential.
There is a pervasive level of uncertainty in the international system. In a ‘billiard ball’ international states system (Waltz, 1979), unpredictability may be leveraged to advantage. This presumes that the ‘unpredictability’ is deliberate, and can be managed without losing trust.
Vigilance is necessary, and both the weary and watchful are called to spirit-ease. An internally challenged system does not necessarily preclude impact of malevolent or radical external variable(s). Distraction is disadvantageous. In thermodynamic terms, there are external force fields to contend with.
The gates of freedom and justice need security. Still, there is hardly a need for a stampede to the well of gall water to drink. The political ride is often a perilous ride, but all must remain in the boat. Ill-disposition and iniquity are antithetical to mercy.
Whatever is spoken in the dark will come to light. In Paulinian terms, one must journey faithfully to Rome regardless of the ‘serpent’ at Malta (Acts 28:5). ‘He’ by the ‘Word’ causes to ‘Be’, because the cause of the Maker is to stir up Love’s zeal like a ‘Man of War’.
Wisdom: He makes His own a ‘threshed sledge’ for Peace’s sake. It is self-evident incongruity to terrify by might.
Love serves!
Nevertheless, there is a season under Heaven for everything. Recent events have made this all the more clear.Fairer gifts include courage. All experiences are transferable to leadership role if attended by Wisdom. Still, a corrupted seed from an initial endeavor essentially vitiates wisdom’s leadership demands. Later conduit or conduct must be made strong by change or a moral repentance. Hence the usual need for a ‘hallowed’ wilderness experience before mission; – if the reader pleases.
We may borrow a lesson from the early years of the ‘American experiment’. Principled positions must be attended by reason and debate. Hamilton and Jefferson had different ideas of what a national economy should look like (Industry/Agrarian).
Wise political leaders are often teachers of wisdom. Wisdom is the indispensable quality of good leadership. Kings and leaders know of Wisdom because they are often brought up in Wisdom.
With humility; – we know of a Teacher (Wisdom) who told a young ruler to ‘sell all you have and come follow me’ (Luke 18:22). We are told the ruler went away sad; – a remarkable rejection of Wisdom’s invitation to exceptional sanctification.
Weakness is never ‘strength’, unless one leans on Love. It is unwise for a ruler to wield the woodman’s ax against his or her own.
This is what we know: there is the system, demarcated by the boundary and surrounded by the environment. It is impossible to raise the temperature of the system without affecting the measure of disorder. It is not only important what one does, but in whose name it is done.
We lean on Love; – as ‘Wisdom’s Inheritance’.