In Wheatake 43, I reflected on inclusiveness as one of the factors which if addressed seriously and intelligently can contribute to healing our brokenness. As Martin Luther King Jr told the crowd that gathered in his church to support Rosa Parks who was on trial for refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white person:
"There comes a time that people get tired of being trampled over by the iron feet of oppression; there comes a time when people get tired of being pushed out of the glittering sunlight of life's July and left standing amidst the piercing chill of an Alpine November."
To continue the chorus, there comes a time when the scale over the eyes of B. V. Islanders will fall off and they will join the healing of our brokenness. There comes a time when B. V. Islanders will unmask themselves and discover their true selves. Through our btokenness who we have been created to be can blossom and bear fruits. Through Thodolph Holborne Faulkner's btokenness the leadership for the 1949 March emerged and when the Commissioner tried to put out his flame the Anglican priest stepped in and reinforced the struggle of the broken people. When the Commissioner attempted to tighten the secondary education noose the Methodist Superintendent Minister stepped in and reinforced the struggle of the broken people and they overcame.
Today our brokenness can be the spring board for the inherent greatness in us to blossom. The broken clouds send rain for the broken seeds to grow and yield their fruits to give strength to broken B. V. Islanders to pursue their God given purposes.
Through our brokenness we had learned to be inclusive but we have not sustained and reinforced it. The glamour of the American green, our devisiveness, our selfishness, our greed, our hunger for power, our hatredness towards one another, our suppressive tactics and clandestine behaviour towards one another csused us to behave like the dog who when he looked down in the well and saw his shadow jumped at it to destroy it, only to find himself struggling for life in the water. The apostle Paul's admonition to the Romans can be helpful to us in our brokenness:
"Rejoice with thóse who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn, live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
(Romans 12:15-18)
- Dr. Charles H. Wheatley