The supreme civil law of our land is our Constitution, the principles or codes by with we govern ourselves. It is the outward expression of the very soul of our country; and so should be the sacred guide by which we live as a civilized people. ﾠIt is supposed to be the guiding light or inspiration for living out the values of self-discipline, industry, loyalty and ﾓan abiding respectﾒ for Christian values and the rule of law. ﾠIn short it affirms what we often hear loudly being preached ﾖ that we are a Christian nation. But are we really?
When we look at the Christian message as expressed in the New Testament, and measure the actions and attitudes of daily life in our Bahamaland, can we truthfully say that we are doing a good job at trying to live out that message? Oh, we have erected and do rent many edifices for worship, and do dress up in various colourful robes and often engage in forms of praise and worship in those sanctuaries; but do these in themselves make us a Christian nation, or should our Christianity be measured by the fruit that we bear?
One of the hallmarks of a Christian people is the living treatment that they bestow upon the beginning and end of the spectrum of life ﾖ how we treat our children and our elderly. ﾠUnfortunately, we seem to need lots of improvement in these areas.
First, lets look at how we treat our children. Instead of following the example prescribed in the New Testament, we approach the rearing of our children from the Old Testament approach and more. ﾠChildren are to be seen and not heard; and at times are viewed as chattel, commodities to be owned and used as parents and other caregivers see fit. They are viewed as ignorant and full of the devil, who should be beaten out of them. ﾠThe rod of correction has been taken so literally that our culture has come to accept the desecration of the childﾴs temple as discipline.
What, we wonder, would happen to our society if all parents were to view themselves as the earthly parents of Jesus Christ and their children as little Jesuses who have been entrusted to their care? ﾠOur children would then, in a sense, become the way, the truth, and light and the life. ﾠWe might then come to a deeper understanding of what it means to enter the Kingdom by becoming like little children, and what ﾓthy Kingdom here on earthﾒ is all about.
The love and tender care of children are indeed the true marks of a truly great and Christian nation. ﾠUnfortunately we hear of and read about too many cases of physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse, as well as murders of children in our small nation. Children are not generally treated as little Jesus gifts to be treasured every day of our lives. ﾠMore and better parenting skills preparation are needed in our homes and schools if we are going to turn things around in this regard.
The same holds true for our second childhood ﾖ twilight years. How do we treat our elderly, our ﾓprecious pearls,ﾒ as dubbed by a former government minister? ﾠOur population is beginning to age ﾖ many prematurely. Have we been, as a nation, providing the material, emotional and spiritual support that is needed for them to gracefully live out the last years of their second childhood, or have we placed so much emphasis on youth and their desires that the needs and desires of the elderly are put on the back burner?
Yes, there are many younger persons who show deep reverence and love for their elderly relatives. Yes, there are public and private institutions that do likewise. With scarce human, material and financial resources they perform the yeomanﾴs task of caring for our aged not for any personal gain, but to simply live out the Christian message. ﾠMay they continue to be strengthened and blessed in their ministry. But as a nation how do we fare in caring for our elderly?
We brag about our country having the third highest per capita income in the region, about $15,000 per annum. ﾠOur Central Bank report shows bank deposits in the billions of dollars, yet we have no first class childrenﾴs hospital or first class medical and rest home for our ﾓprecious pearls.ﾒ ﾠThe facilities that we do have appear to be inadequate to meet the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of our elderly. ﾠHow well are these facilities equipped with libraries, exercise and recreation facilities to exercise body, mind and soul?
In some countries the elderly are treated with much deference as a matter of course. ﾠOn public transportation they ride free or at a greatly reduced fare. After all a little pension, which seems never to rise with cost of living, does not go very far toward a dignified quality of life. ﾠAt some restaurants the elderly eat at reduced cost; medicine cost is reduced at pharmacies, special service lines and other amenities to assist the elderly, who oftentimes suffer from chronic problems which need special attention. ﾠWhere are our parks, playgrounds, and other educational and recreational facilities where older persons can take their grandchildren to spend the day or a few hours to regenerate themselves?
Maybe this is all a utopian dream; nevertheless this is what the Christian is called to live out everyday ﾖ even when it hurts to do so.
Comments may be emailed to vlferg@batelnet.bs
Vincent L. Ferguson, The Bahama Journal
