09th January 2010
“Take up thy bed and.....”

For as long as I have been made aware that: ‘evil can also quote scripture for its own ends’, I have tried to avoid any casual reference to chapter and verse of ‘Holy Writ’ unlike some of the more reckless (and cunning) who use it for income, and gain. No one can therefore mistakenly file me under the category as those who use ‘God’ willy-nilly for their fund-raising schemes. I however admit that parts of that controversial book entice me to its poetic language which I sometimes find myself memorizing and repeating. It is with that latter mind set that I start this brand new year – 2010 – using a quote from that source, and borrowed from Matthew c9, v6; for the purpose of inspiring those who need to stand up and walk.
The above quotation is easily recognizable by many – even non-Christians. Its popularity and easy recognition is probably due to the fact that it touches a cord in each of us who know first hand, what it means to use our initiative and to work towards set goals. We know, for example, how we respond to events which impact our lives, may be more responsible for our fate, than the events themselves. In other words, our attitudes and responses can help shape unfolding events to our benefit. Perhaps that is the reason so many people find religion helpful; allowing them to persevere and overcome where they may otherwise crumble.
As the first working days of this brand new year begin to take hold and continue to shape the remainder of 2010 and beyond, it is my hope and prayer that, the people of Saint Lucia as well as the rest of the Caribbean - particularly the youth and the marginalized – will resolve to stand up, instead of sitting or lying down; will determine to take up his or her bed, and walk. We must walk in order to change the condition of inertia - no matter how small the steps we take, each day. However long and difficult the journey, it all begins with one, single step. Nothing, however trivial or important, was ever achieved without that first step and without an input of energy or sweat equity - work.
If we refuse to obey the wise biblical command and instead, choose to stay sitting or lying down when there are no pressing medical conditions for so doing, we soon discover that life becomes very boring. Besides, every lazy alley one turns into for escape and succour, leads to the same uninspiring dead end. The more perceptive will take heed of the words of the famous Cuban poet, Nicolas Guillen: ‘Traveler, there are no paths; paths are made by walking’…... We also learn quickly that although constant and repetitive steps may at first seem difficult, they nevertheless lead to increasing increments of satisfaction. Each successful step we take helps to build confidence which in turn serves to inspire and energize us, for the next. We also come to appreciate that activity – work – bears within it, its own reward and satisfaction. Bearing all these in mind, one must therefore studiously guard against allowing the demands for constant repetitive action to frustrate one into submission and idleness. If we fail, the excuse must not be we did not discover soon enough that the real killer of creative thought is idleness, and its kissing cousin, lethargy.
But don’t be fooled. Repetitive steps and constant, focused action of any kind, takes supreme sacrifice and determination. It is well documented in the biographies of successful people that it was by their constantly taking of those seemingly simple steps each day, they were finally able to conquer the demons of inertia, laziness and stagnation. There will most certainly be some obstacles; a few miss-steps; maybe some deliberate tripping and un-kept promises by others, all leading to more frustration. But once there is life, one ought to keep hope alive. With such hope and a silent prayer in our hearts, we keep walking. We remain determined to arrive at a place where happiness dwells and joy awakens in us a new world.
Rest assured, its O.K to pause once in a while to read a good book or to be inspired by other people’s stories. But whatever our lot in life, we need ‘to keep walking’ to keep improving. As a people we must resolve in this New Year – 2010 - to find meaning in the words of the apostles Matthew, Mark and Luke which are specific to that particular command in the New Testament to take up your bed (mat) and walk. The greeting ‘Happy New Year’ must therefore mean ‘I would be very happy, if you were to forget your infirmities for a change, and determine to face life, with all its challenges, head on’.