The HUG

Several interpretations have been applied Bob Marley’s Man to Man song.

Man to man is so unjust, children:
Ya dont know who to trust.
Your worst enemy could be your best friend,
And your best friend your worse enemy.
Some will eat and drink with you,
Then behind them su-su pon you.
Only your friend know your secrets,
So only he could reveal it.
And who the cap fit, let them wear it!

This blogmaster continues to marvel at how humankind despite self labelling as being the most advance of the animal specie behave as primitive in interactions as a wild animal.

As traditional values like honesty, respect, integrity, credibility to list a few give way to a people happy to be anchored in nothingness – so too the way of the world we live. A walk through many school yards bar a few tells a tale of what the morrow portends.

Barbadians have joined others where the ability to reason and apply logical thought is being trumped by political and irrelevant considerations. Even if it means national proprieties must be ignored. The inability to reason is not deliberate, it is derivative of educated ignorance.

Our inability to demonstrate love, forgiveness are character traits in the modern era is a waning behaviour.

The reaction to the ‘HUG’ given to Amber Guyger by the brother of murder victim Botham Jean makes for an interesting case study. The Black judge that approved the action also hugged Guyger as has attracted the ire of an ism crazy public. A simple act of love and forgiveness has been interpreted in so many ways it was not meant to be.

Several times the blogmaster has issued the refrain that all the world needs is more love. It seems the ability to demonstrate love and forgiveness has gotten lost in the translation of surviving in today’s rate race. Could it be the ‘HUG’ becomes a seminal moment in time?

 

God Has a Better Way of Life for All

Submitted by Emmanuel

In today’s society we live with desires and ways of which we are told that one has the right to live life as they please, and things they do are quite acceptable within reason. Now because of such thinking one person wants to spend their day quietly resting from a long period of intense pressure, while their neighbor wants to play music as loudly as possible, without concern for others; or one person favors Brazil’s football team and another Arsenal’s football team.  Nowadays they prefer to fight each other; or someone with their vehicle’s super stereo passing by your home, you hearing them long before they pass, and when they do your windows and doors rattle.

In the situations mentioned, someone is always disadvantaged, or irritated, or hurt, and of recent to the point of violence. Now when the Lord Jesus said ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ His words in each of these situations would be an excellent solution for all parties mentioned.

However, Jesus said ‘But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.'(Matt 24:37). In Noah’s days people were indifferent toward the truth about God. People were violent, doing what was good in their own eyes. ‘And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His Heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; But Noah found grace in the Eyes of the LORD. (Gen 6:5-7a,8). Grace (favor,mercy). ‘The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. (Gen 6:11-13).

There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Prov 14:12). We have become quite a violent society, with violence leading to unmerciful deaths, shootings, beatings, robberies, injustices, wicked and perverse actions, foul and vile speech, and through music of awful moral character, the demoralizing and degrading of people, especially females. The Lord tries the righteous: but the wicked and him that loves violence His Soul hates (Psalm 11:5).

But there is hope!

Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ and ‘Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'(John 14:6a) and (Matt 11:28).

Jesus loves you!

He was sent to die (give His perfect life) in exchange for yours. ‘For GOD so loved the world (you and me) that HE gave HIS only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).

My warning to our nation is that we turn from the violent, evil ways we have adopted; hating and hurting: and treat others with the love and respect that we would want to be treated with. ‘He that loves not knows not God; for GOD IS LOVE. (1 John 4:8). Let’s seek Him while He may be found, He is still waiting on us in love!