In the art of faith: Remember Me book review
Authors remain the conscience of society as they play a critical role in stimulating the culture of reading, which is pivotal for our generation. The author is often ignored in the arts yet book writers are a very potent voice that can help motivate self-growth and a change of attitude in readers through the content they produce. It can actually bring positive societal change.
A great many times we also ignore the satiation of the spiritual side of our lives, which slows down our creative drive and processes. For the artists and the creatives, it remains imperative to retrace the steps of faith and belief which are actualized through the power of meditation and prayer, which helps to unlock the deeper creative within us.
As we are now in Easter, I would like to explore Brother Musawenkosi Moses Sibanda from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bulawayo in his newly released spiritual book titled Remember Me, where he reminisces on the crucial words of Jesus Christ, which he uttered on the cross. The book reminisces on the moment the “good thief” who hung on the cross with the Lord Jesus said “remember me in Paradise”, and Jesus promised him that indeed, they would be together in paradise.
The chapters in a highly advanced vivid way describe the power of the saving grace of God, and a deeper understanding of the last and agonising moments of Jesus. Many artists live to be remembered too through their artistic works, but the rhetoric is whether they are able to face and also embrace the cross of their life.
My favourite part remains his introduction where he gives mention of an important phrase, “No Cross, No Crown”. In this, the author clearly outlines the importance of the Cross as a representation of victory and salvation and how the Christian journey evolves in the cross which we have to carry and embrace. The burden of Covid-19 is also a cross we have to carry, and in the end we need to be victorious like Christ who conquered death.
Life for many creatives is characterised by burdens and the harsh realities, which a great many times drive the creative artists at the verge of almost giving up. We know of some artists that are now living in the rural areas or are selling tomatoes because they have been struggling, and they are carrying the cross of difficulties in the cost of living in the country because their art is not giving them enough gains to earn a respectable living.
But in Brother Musa’s Remember Me, the author reminds everyone that is burdened of the image of the Cross, which represents the challenges that we have to face head-on and tackle in our everyday life, as it is in the ability to face and conquer these challenges that we become victorious in all that we do. To the creatives, the book is henceforth a reminder to turn to God and ask for his divine guidance and inspiration as he is also the giver of our artistic talents.
Interestingly, the author also quotes the words of the new Catholic Bishop of Hwange Diocese Raphael Mabuza Ncube, where he states that Jesus embraced the cross which represented shame, failure, social ostracism and divine condemnation and made it to represent victory and salvation.
Reading these words gives me a message, which I can also give to the artists and everyone who pushes their passion for survival in this world. We have to embrace all forms of negativity so as to instigate positivity. The lesson from Christ is that of facing the stigma of society and standing for what is right. The book Remember Me reminds us that just like how Christ approached the cross, we as artists also need to approach our lives and even our art works - not as a mission to be accomplished.
The book Remember Me by Brother Musa also brings into insight the concept which espouses the Paschal mystery; depicting and actualising the great love of God which unfathomably he pours unto the whole world as outlined in 1 John 4:16. Remember Me also outlines how the events of the passion of Christ reflect a great change in the history of Christianity as a whole as it shows the power of love and sacrifice.
The book states that in a world characterised by hatred and despondency; especially with the rise of Afrophobia, xenophobia, racism, tribalism in the context of Africa and the war in Russia and Ukraine, the moment of agony of Christ in the Cross is a depiction of a deep moment of forgiveness and love. This message is also central in all art work so as to promote the actualisation of change and development.
One rich thing in the book Remember Me is the message that the wisdom of our religious elders remains a central entity especially for the youth. In our current generation many of the youth now follow the influence of the foolishness of the world which thus weakens even their message in the art works. The book is a call to live a life of truth and transparency enmeshed in the understanding of Christ’s depth of sacrifice and love.
Brother Musa states that one critical component from his book is the foreword by Catholic Archbishop Alex Thomas from the Bulawayo Archdiocese where he highlights how it remains encouraging to see young people such as Brother Musa give themselves time to sit down, compose themselves and reflect on the message of Christ on the Cross. This is so because these days many young people find it hard to concentrate as there are many attractions such as drug abuse and forms of immorality.
In Remember Me, Brother Musa shows that being young does not mean being serious in life. Through reading this book it reminds every one of the reality of having something to offer and to embrace a life of prayer. Everyone, especially young artists should utilise their talents and be able to face our crosses in life just like Christ carried his Cross of salvation.
Happy Easter and Happy Independence Day to Zimbabwe Raymond Millagre Langa is a musical, orator, writer, and the founder of Indebo Edutainment Trust. Follow Raymond Millagre Langa on Facebook, Instagram @Millagre Ray L, or email: indebotrust@gmail.com or millagrepapaito@gmail.com