Hugh Masakela at the Ottawa Jazz Festival

sat'day riddymz

Onyx Ashanti and Beat Jazz

Sunday Chat with Dad

Hey Dad, today is the day that has been set aside to honor our earthly fathers. It naturally makes me think about my father who passed away years ago. He was a good man. He provided for his family and loved us in his own way. We weren't close. We never developed an emotional connection. In my adult years I never considered him a "friend". I never seeked his counsel. I don't think about him much. I don't miss him. 

The greatest influence he's had on me is not what to do... not how to be. I don't want to have the same kind of relationship with my son that my father and I had. This isn't a post to criticize or condemn him. He came from a different time where to him, a father provided financially and materially for his family, while the mother did all the nurturing and disciplining. He wasn't abusive or mean. He just didn't take a personal interest in his children... beside making sure we were collectively clothed, fed, housed and educated. I thank him and honor him for that. He did more than some men I know. 

I think about my relationship with my son today. He is my world. I took 4 months parental leave when he was 8 months old. Our bond is solid. We are very close. I enjoy being his father. I feel honored that he is my son. It is said that children are a gift from you, Dad. I appreciate and cherish your gift. However sometimes it scare me. Not the responsibility to nurture and raise him to be the best man he can be. What scares me is the depth of love I have for him. 

I think of the story of Abraham and Isaac.

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham,"Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together . When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” "Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

I always marvelled at this story... Abraham's complete faith that you, Dad, would provide a sacrifice in place of his only begotten son. I don't have that depth of faith. I couldn't sacrifice my son at your command. I love him that much. Does that mean I don't love or "fear" You as Abraham did? That's what scares me at times. I now understand the love you had for me to sacrifice your only begotten Son on my behalf. I feel guilty and unworthy at times.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 

However Dad, I take comfort because I know you understand. You are love. You are the strength in my weaknesses. You are the calm in my fears. You teach me about your love for me, in the love I have for my son. You have blessed me once again with the opportunity to be a father. Your perfect love as my heavenly Father is a beacon that I strive towards as an earthly father.

sat'day riddymz

sat'day riddymz

The Struggle For Dignity

One of the most arduous struggle one can go through, is the struggle to safeguard one's human dignity, as well as the right to safeguard the integrity of one's own body. These go hand in hand. This struggle is more intense than the struggle for food, shelter, clothing, political rights, religious rights, civil rights, gay rights, women's rights, etc.

This is not a matter of comparing or ranking the various struggles people are engaged in. In many cases they may intertwine. However, regardless of one's gender, colour, ethnicity, religious or political affiliations, social status, sexual orientation, etc., when one has to engage in a war for their personal dignity and bodily integrity, you are not  just battling against flesh and blood, "but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places".



No clearer is this seen than the treatment of African women and girls... by standards set for the benefit African men! Not all African women, girls and by all African men, but specifically in the exploitation of forced marriages, the denial of education, the brutal use of rape as a weapon of war and the barbarity of female genital mutilation. I saw this documentary on Al Jazeera, "Abandon the Knife" on female circumcision in a rural communitiy of Kenya. My emotions went from astonishment, anger, sadness and empathy and others I can't define. I commend the young women on their courageous stand to fight for their dignity, to protect their integrity, to take control of their future and to dream the impossible dream.