Dear one,
Earlier this week, the London Times reported: during a recent trip to the UK, while Peter Mutharika, President of Malawi, received approximately $79.3million in governmental aid, his wife was spending nearly $107,360 upon personal items. Whether or not of interest to Americans, certainly the juxtaposition of aid received and monies expended caught the attention of many Malawians—which provides insight into their recent political upheaval.
In many regards, and it’s not merely a Malawian story, the vast economic chasm between those who maneuver the halls and sit in the seats of power, and those who trudge dusty trails for water and sit on earthen floors is widening. However, those who trudge are increasingly aware of those who maneuver, and so the former are taking to the streets, looting and burning, in protest of the latter. If not justifiable, certainly understandable.
In the midst of following Malawi’s upheaval, I have had pause to ponder following description of that radically historic moment, the French Revolution, and those who led it:
"[The] merely personal element was even more important in dividing and envenoming these [revolutionary] groups … [Thus from] August 10, 1792, there were two powers in the state, the Commune or government of Paris and the Convention or government of France, now directed by the Committee of Public Safety. These two had in the main cooperated … [but] now dissension raised its head and harmony was no more."1
This observation, although nothing new within the annals of human history, surely reflects that history: having once attained power, those in power seek to maintain power by building and perpetuating their position/crown/party/nation. Seemingly within us, individually and collectively, an ego-drive exists, which wants to assert: “I did it my way” (Frank Sinatra).
What occurred during the French Revolution; what is occurring in present-day Malawi is not new, but like so many human endeavors is counter Jesus’ Kingdom:
“Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45).
Given these thoughts, a further observation, seeking neither to express nor rouse feelings of guilt: as an American within the global village, I am one who has maneuvered the halls and have a seat of power; and as a Christian, I recognize my nature: I’d rather be served than serve.
More next week,
Stan
1Charles Downer Hazen.