Thoughts from the pen of the Rev'd Dr. Udobata Onunwa.
Summer 2006 message to our community.
Let us consider how we can spur one another on toward love and good deeds
We are here in the world for the good of one another. One of the greatest problems of our time is the refusal of most people to share in the success or misfortune of others. More often than not, we like to pull people down. We love to see them suffer. We taunt them .We malign them and make many harsh and derogatory remarks and often tell lies against others. This seems to the way most people spend their time, looking out for the faults in others and not for something good in them on which we can build and move the society forward. On the contrary we are meant to help one another and by so doing enjoy live a healthy life. In an attempt to run down others, we destroy ourselves.
This is not peculiar to our own age. It has been the problem of humanity over the years. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews advised humans to consider how we can spur one another on towards love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10: 24) What a great challenge to us today! We are called to do this for the good of us all. Many people are not happy today or have no joy in themselves because of their own attitude towards the joy and success of others. It is a shame that some people take delight in the misfortune of others and not only that they often spend more time planning evil against their peers, family members, friends, and neighbours. When one spends greater part of the day planning evil against another or feels unconcerned about the welfare of the neighbour, it is unlikely for such a person to have the peace of mind which comes from God who loves even those who do not love him.
If our minds would be free from envy, wicked thoughts against others, indifference and insensitivity towards others, we may begin to enjoy a new lease of life. Instead of spending all the day planning evil, discussing another person's weakness, the Bible encourages us to be positive, loving, encouraging and creative in our attitude towards others. If we help the people we meet daily on our way to get up, live right, live well; the society would be such a place of joy and peace for all. It is unlikely for one to completely escape the evils of ignoring full participation in the welfare of our community and the people. We need to make positive contributions for the good and edification of other so that we may also enjoy the peace and tranquility of a well organised and disciplined society.
Those who feel unconcerned with the events that happen daily in our society must in one way or the other be affected by the crimes they thought that would never affect them. No one is an island to himself It is therefore, important that all of us must put our hands together in our efforts to improve our environment, clean and develop the local community, encourage the young people to live life of integrity and respect. If we leave it for the Church, or the Police, the Council, etc. to do alone, the good we failed or refused to do will one day turn round to be evil that will affect us adversely.
St Andrews stands at the Centre of our Community here in the Grange and in Runcom. It is our ministry to see that we encourage the young, the old, the rich, the poor, the highly educated, the less educated, the men, women, the leaders of our society and in fact every member of our community to aim of loving our people and doing good things that will make every one here feel proud of our society. That demands that all of us must learn to work together for the good of our society and the welfare of one another. Let us, therefore, come and make our own little contribution, that will make this community a place where one enjoys God-given peace and joy. Let us see how we can encourage one another to love and do good deeds. Who would not like to live in such a society? From today, begin to love and plan how to build up another person and you will enjoy the peace that passes all human understanding. God bless you all.
Udobata