Voices in the silence

We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.” 

“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” 

― Malala Yousafzai, I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

“I raise up my voice-not so I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard...we cannot succeed when half of us are held back.”
― Malala Yousafzai

________

Shhhhhh

[Silence]

Hmmmm

[Silence]

Shhhhhh

[Silence]

Hmmmm

[Silence]

Ahhhh - ohhh - ahhh -ayeee [vocalise solo]

From the bowels of the earth

Seeds of life fill my being

I sense the fire 

driving breath throughout my soul

From the caverns underground

Vibrant streams flood my seeing

I behold the colours 

Swirling round my core  

From the death of fallen fruit

Shoots of green break through terrain

I feel tingling in the cells
Flowing through my veins

[instrumentals, featuring moments of silence, and finishing in silence...]

I raise my voice - out of the void
I raise my voice - out of emptiness
I sing this song - out of the space around me
I sing these words - when no-one wants to hear

I will not be silenced!
I will not withdraw!
I will sing with my every breath -
I will form the words for all -

These are the names of forgotten
The names of those whose harmonies -
are needed to bring peace -
and missing from our tables -
are hidden from the pictures
that we paint of common life.

I will not be silenced!
I will not withdraw!
I will sing with my every breath -
I will form the words for all -

C.2018,  A.Koh-Butler

Glowing at night - at the Treehouse Hotel

‘Twas the eve of Palm Sunday.
My friends and I had been in meetings for two and a bit days. We had another day to go.
We were tired and the day had held many serious and deep conversations. We had prayed and worshipped. We had held each other’s stories. We had shared our heart for the nation and the faithful.
We looked for an hour to relax over a quiet drink.

We walked down the hill to the pub. We were in a city area and the pub was reasonably upmarket. Of course, five ministers/pastors walking into a bar sounds like the beginning of a particularly complex joke, but... we did it anyway!

I had been chatting with one of our number and the others had gone straight in to claim a table.
My friend held the door for me and followed in, passing me as the bouncer stopped me for a word.

“You can’t drink that in here”
“I’m sorry - what?”
“It’s policy that you cant have that here”
“I beg your pardon?”
“If it’s going to be a problem you can leave.”
“What problem, I dont understand?”
“You can’t drink that here.”
“Oh - my water bottle?”
“Well - it’s a flask - it could be anything -  and you cant have it here.”
“It’s my water bottle.”
“Is it a problem for you?”
“No, but”
“You can get water at the bar”
“”Yes - but I carry PH water - it’s alkaline”
“If you have a problem, you can leave”

And (to my friends)
“If any of you have a problem, you can leave”

One of my friends starts to get up...
“No” I say “No problem - it’s just a water bottle - if you dont want to test it, I’ll put it in my bag.”

We sit and order a drink and some food.
A great conversation ensues, but not before each of the friends catch my eye to make sure I am ok.
“Nothing we havn’t all dealt with before” I say.

And there it is. I know that each of my ministry friends has had dealings with bouncers. They have each been turned away or picked on or singled out. Does this happen to everyone? Or only those who are Aborighinal or Tongan or their yellow (Chinese) friends?

This was what I will remember of the last Assembly Standing Committee of the 2015-2018 Triennium.

We were not wearing collars, nor high heels and sequins. We were simply a small group of casually dressed quiet people - obviously not partying, simply some friends, seeking a place to enjoy each other’s company. We were bringing in business.

I wondered if the bouncer thought we were undesirables. Then I began to wonder if the ‘white’ bouncer was responding to us being people of colour. It shamed me to even consider the question. Some might suggest I was reading too much into it. I don’t go to bars very often - I would have no idea what a policy about a water bottle involved. It reminded me of some particularly surly welcomers at some worship services!

Lol... It reminded me of a ‘welcomer’ who recently passed away. He had a heart of gold and worked incredibly hard for the church I was once at. But - any congregation is probably going to face some challenges if the ‘welcomer’ is on the spectrum and struggles to relate to anyone who doesn’t fit their idea of who should be let in. May he Rest In Peace and may he find good welcome at the gates of Heaven!

I feel for the bouncer - he missed out on the blessing of my friends. They spent their money and were gold-class clients. No trouble. Just good people.
 
We have a long way to go as a nation. Now, more than ever, the country needs a multicultural church... not one that pretends racism doesn’t exist, but one that acknowledges that only by walking together can we create a different kind of community foretaste of the Kingdom of Heaven.

I cannot begin to explain the respect I feel for my friends. They are heros and heroines in my eyes. They bear the slander and shame of racism with the Passion of Christ. They laugh and joke and share a drink at the end of long complex days, knowing it is easier to walk away. They offer companionship on a pilgrimage of faith. They sing loud and dance (when others do not). I love my faith friends.

Glow in the Dark

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

[two people are discussing whether one can make a difference as an ‘ordinary person’ in influencing peace - a woman is lighting paper lanterns, a man is questioning her]


What can you offer in a situation like this? You are no diplomat! You know nothing of politics or economic realities that shape the decisions to wage war or bargain for peace! How can you even contemplate having an opinion about the future of this land? Who do you think you are? You are nothing! You are no-one!

Not to my husband.
Not to my child.
They love me.
   
What have they got to do with it? You are no-one. They are nothing.
  

But I know why people stand up and say No - for their children... for their land... for their home... what is peace to you? 

What is peace to those who negotiate? 

They go home to their safe houses. 

It is not their husband who will die in battle. 

It is not their child who will be homeless.

(Song - Intro)

I offer a reality check.
I focus the light on truth.
I remind people to open their eyes - to see beyond the storyboards.
I bear light because of the warmth of the baby I hold in my arms.
I behold a face full of tenderness, glowing with joy at being alive.
I hear laughter when I turn my glance and catch a glimpse of the breath of my breath - the life that came from within ...

Life might come from within - a spark of possibility...

In the darkness of their fears
They may turn to one with experience of life - of love - of hope
In the challenge of these anxious days
They may pray for offers of embrace - for comfort - for truce-time
If we buy but a day of calm, we may be one day closer to Heaven.

Anthem

I want to glow in the dark
Like the light in your eyes.
I want to bring out the spark
Of your words

I want to lift up your prayer
As a banner of hope
Let your story of life
Be our truth

I want to float on the vision of Heaven
I want to bless this great family’s soul
I want to join the collective of this earth
Let the story of life

Be our truth

Both voices

Like the stars in the Heavens
Our hearts proclaim praise
To the Truth and the Life and Belief. 
May we glow in the darkness 
To show the Way
On the path of the pilgrim... 


I want to glow in the dark
With bright light in my eyes .
I want to speak with a spark 
In my words

I want to lift up a prayer
As a banner of hope
Let the story of life
Be our truth

We want to float on the vision of Heaven
We want to bless this great family’s soul
We want to join the collective of this earth
Let the story of life

Be our truth

Choir

Like the stars in the Heavens

Our hearts proclaim praise
To the Truth and the Life and Belief. 
May we glow in the darkness 
To show the Way
On the path of the pilgrim... 

We want to float on the vision of Heaven
We want to bless this great family’s soul
We want to join the collective of this earth
Let the story of life

Be our truth


Chorale

Glow as the children of Heaven
Glow with the warmth of the thousand suns
Glow with the light of the Child in the night
Shining for Life yet to come

Darkness may try to engulf us 
Threaten to tear us apart. 
Hatred creeps up and confronts us 
Anger wells up from within.
Only the Light and the Love 
of Life can free us to be
those who

Glow as the children of Heaven
Glow with the warmth of the thousand suns
Glow with the light of the Child in the night

Shining for Life yet to come

C. A.Koh-Butler, 2018