• COLOURS OF LIFE
“Not even God Himself could sink this ship” Employee of the White Sea Liner at the launch on May 31st, 1911
In 1912, a group of powerful businessmen came together and built a shipping vessel that was a masterpiece. This paradise on the sea set sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to America. On board were 2227 passengers. Against the advice of the original builders of the ship, who proposed 50 lifeboats, the owners of the White Sea Liner made provision for just 20. At 11:45pm on April 14, 1912 (just two days after the ship left shore, and 400 miles off Newfoundland, Canada) the Titanic struck an iceberg. Three hours later, the world-famous sea wonder sunk with all but 705 of its passengers. This accident has become one of the most monumental tragedies in history.
“No woman in my time will be Prime Minister…” Margaret Thatcher, October 1969
Margaret Thatcher’s induction into the world of politics came from her father, a local councillor in Grantham, England. Alfred Roberts fed his daughter with stories of the happenings in the political circles. She became President of the student Conservative Association at Oxford, where she studied Chemistry. There, she also began to hobnob with prominent politicians and the party leadership. After graduation, she pursued her interest in politics. In the General Elections of 1950 and 1951, Margaret Hilda Roberts became the youngest woman candidate in the country, running as the Conservative candidate for the Labour seat of Dartford. Although she lost at both attempts, Margaret enjoyed the experience and gained popularity. She got married to Dennis Thatcher in 1951. She became a member of the House of Lords and Education Minister, under the Heath Government (1970-1974). After the Conservatives lost two General Elections, Thatcher ran against Heath and won, becoming the first woman leader of a Western political party.
A decade later, a series of events put the Labour party in disfavour with the people and paved the way to Downing Street for Thatcher. In May 1979, Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of Britain, a position she held for three terms, making her the longest serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century.
“… I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.”
Martin Luther King Jr., Lincoln Memorial, August 28th, 1963.
When Reverend Martin Luther King gave his famous ‘I have a dream’ speech in Washington, he talked about an America where ‘black’ and ‘white’ kids will grow up with equal opportunities. He spoke of a time when people will be judged not by the colour of their skin but on merit. He longed for an America where freedom would be a reality and not just a dream. Less than 5 decades later, an African-American became President of the United States of America. Barak Obama, a political nonentity, who according to his contender in the primaries, Hillary Clinton, had ‘only a speech he made in 2000’ to show for experience, beat the former First Lady and former senator to clinch the nomination for the Democratic party. He also beat his rival, Senator John Mcain, to become the 44 President of the United States of America.
YOU AND ME
Happenings like these that occur, against all odds, are a reminder that all things are possible. Some of us may be able to point to a situation we found ourselves in that seemed impossible to get out from. But somehow things worked out, against all odds. Those experiences often have us swallow our words and question our doubts. Experiences like these should not just humble us, they should give us hope.
And hope should make us get up each morning with a positive attitude. Hope should give us something to live for, something to aspire to, something to pursue. While the stories we have shared played out on the world stage, the principle is the same even in our little corners. These examples should encourage us when we face difficulty, an insurmountable debt, a terminal disease, an irreparable relationship, an irreplaceable loss, a difficult decision, a great challenge, a big dream. When we wonder what to do, where to go, how to begin, let us be encouraged by these examples. Above all, let us remember these reassuring words from God; ‘I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27
THE COLOURS OF LIFE SHOW
Remember to tune in to our Colour of Life TV show on you tube, Sundays at 5 pm (WAT). Last week Mrs Nkoyo Rapu inspired us as she talked of the work of her Bethesda Child Support Agency, in transforming indigent communities through education. Today, we would listen to testimonies of how the Alpha Course is changing lives. Next week, Mrs Chiadi Ndu will talk about how she deals with trauma.