Dear reader
Today's blogpost is by Mr. Owuor Kuyoh. Owuor has guest-written for Pen Strokes before. See his previous article by clicking here. I hope that Kuyoh's article will inspire heroism in you like it did in me. May the spirit of Christ be reflected in the words of this blog.
Grace & Peace
Ernest
SLINGING STONES by Owuor Kuyoh
One of life’s most head banging
moments for me is having an encounter with a 3yr old cousin of mine who takes
me for his punching bag/bat mobile/dare devil sidekick/agony aunt/sponge
bob/partner in crime. Those roles
fall in no particular order but I’m beginning to notice a pattern. Anyway, the
little rascal always gives me
insights on life that can hardly be fathomed by an adult mind. The other day he
told me “Your face hurts my feelings.” No comeback yet. Still searching….
So, back to my original story,
the fine gent has recently procured an affinity to super heroes. I noticed this
the other day when he sprinted naked across the sitting room with his towel as
his cape and the house help his faithful sidekick…well not really; she just
frantically tried to save face in front of her employers as the nake…uuh..caped
crusader whizzed under the dining table. Can you blame him? No. actually it’s
my fault. Whenever I’m with him we always watch superhero blockbusters. Hulk,
Iron Man, Thor, Superman, Green Lantern, Batman, Makmende. You name it, we
watch it, we re-enact awesome scenes then rewind the whole thing and do it all
over again till our eyes bleed out from their sockets. Yes sometimes, I act
like a child, because I am one. It’s legal, read the constitution.
What makes heroes so alluring, so
captivating, so fascinating, so glamorous, so swaggnificent (can’t believe I
used that, but you get my point) that everyone wants to be one? We have songs about heroes, books
written in their honor, awesome statues like Megamind’s, Halloween costumes,
action figures, movies even underwear! What is it with heroes?!!
For me, there are quite a number
of aspects in heroes that stand out but I’ll highlight just one that stands out
like its colors have been washed with Toss. Heroes
are ordinary people living extra ordinary lives. Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne,
Tony Stark, Peter Parker. Makmende. Ordinary people, extra ordinary lives. “But wait,” you say “These are fictional characters; unreal, made up, imagined, we want real
thing. Haki yetu!” The tribe has spoken.
Imagine with me a young man who
was a shepherd by day, lion killer by night. And no he doesn’t reside in
Kitengela. David, son of Jesse, a shepherd, the lastborn in his household, not
much was expected of him. At least that’s what they all said. In 1Sam 16, when
the time for anointing had come, his father thought so less of him he left him
tending sheep. He wasn’t even proposed as a candidate. That was man’s
perspective; God was playing at a totally different ball game. David’s time of public
revealing had come much faster than he had time to prepare for. He was more
concerned with his role. A shepherd; protector and provider of sheep. He was
diligent and passionate about his work, at the back and call of his father and
kind Saul. He was an ordinary guy. Most of his pals may have lived just the
same way. Yet David understood something radical, something that made him stand
out. When Goliath challenged the armies of God, he went ballistic! Calling
Goliath “this uncircumcised Philistine”, he went ahead and challenged Goliath.
He said “I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the
armies of Israel whom you have defied”. Then took him down with sling and
stone. It is safe to say that Goliath was stoned.
David was a hero. They sang songs
about him. But that’s not what made him a hero. Goliath did. Goliath made David
a hero. There, I said it. You know why? Coz if Goliath wasn’t there, David
would have probably not stood up in defending God’s honor. That’s what heroes
do. That’s what makes heroes. Goliaths. What is your Goliath? Standing against
you, taunting you, making you cower in shame and fear when he roars and comes
at you. You look at him, asking for someone else; a hero to come and take care
of it coz you’re not ready, you can’t, it’s too big, it’s impossible all I have
is this sling and stone.
Wait back up there…that’s all you
have? That’s it? I agree; it’s impossible, just go back to tending sheep, and
counting them till you fall asleep. Much better? Yes?
NO! Back up again. Again.
What else did David have? He had
God. See when he was anointed, the spirit of God came upon him in power. That’s
it! He had an infilling of the Spirit. Because of that he took care of Goliath,
he waged war against the people defying the armies of God. An ordinary guy, an
extra ordinary life.
God is looking for heroes. In
almost every book of the Bible the unending theme behind it is this; “HEROES WANTED”. There are Goliaths
defying the armies of God, Goliaths like poverty, like homelessness,
corruption. And you look at these things everyday and you feel hopeless,
apathetic, you turn the other way saying “It’s
not my job, naomba serekali iingilie kati.” This generation is waiting for
David, waiting for you, to come and slay Goliath. What is in your hand? What is
your sling and stone? Are you confident that “…Greater is He who is in us that
he who is in the world”? Are you really?
I believe that God wants to raise
up a generation whose assignment will be to change the world with His
authority. A generation that isn’t satisfied in just sitting cozy in their
church seats, singing praise hymns, asking God to bless them and show them
favor. A generation that understands the power that lies in them isn’t for
them. His word says in 2 Chronicles
16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and
fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose hearts
are fully committed toward him. God is looking for you, God is searching
for you. For Davids to take on Goliaths. For those who have understood that
their salvation is supposed to change the world.
Heroes know what they are worth.
They know that when Goliath comes it’s up to them to take him down. No retreat,
no surrender. They look at what they have, what is in their hands, their
powers, their abilities, their opportunities, their strengths, their
experiences, their failures and successes.
Goliath is roaring, the world is
crying, God’s people are shuddered in fear. The Bat sign is in the sky.
Put on your cape…and some clothes
as well.