Taking a Stand

“Thoughts do more. Words do much. Actions do much more” - Israelmore Ayivor

Weeks in and weeks out, the Church has been urging people to pray for a government that upholds justice, transparency, accountability and equality irrespective of ethnicity and religious belief. It is so much easier to pray in the comfort of a sanctuary under the full blast of air-conditioners.

There is no denying that God can indeed move mountain through prayer. Yet many of the biblical incidents did not happen just by uttering of prayers alone. A reluctant Jonah was commissioned to go to Nineveh to deliver the message and to turn the people to God. The walls of Jericho city was brought down after Joshua and his men spent seven days matching around the city.

The corrupt regime of Marcos was ousted not by verbal rhetoric alone. The change came about through the People Power when men and women risked their lives and matched against tyranny. The dawning of Arab Spring commenced when men and women walked to the ground to demand change. Some paid with their lives.

This is not a call for revolution. This is a mere realization that physical presence at Ground Zero is required if one truly desires change when mere words simply fall to deaf ears.

This rally at Ground Zero may not yield anything. At least, my conscience is clear fully aware that I have been THERE to help initiate change. Change that is unlikely achieved in the comfort of home and sanctuary. Of course, this is not a rebuke of those who did not turn up.  It does not mean that those who were at Ground Zero are more patriotic and those who did not go love the country less. Everyone is entitled to exercise his own free will and conviction.

I am particularly impressed by this group of university students who turned up to make a stand on 29 August. I believe that these girls veiled themselves not because of religious reason but to pre-empt the possibility of being expelled if their identities are discovered.

In the rally, we met a number of pastors including my church pastor. I have great admiration for pastors who not only encourage and mobilise people to pray for the nation, but they are personally convicted enough to be in and with the crowd.

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This cousin of mine though much younger than me has been an inspiration. His disgust against bad government indirectly challenged me to make a stand. He helped to get our T-shirts for this significant event!

I met my cousin again in the second day when we matched from Likas towards KK City. Unfortunately, the match had to be aborted because the FRU set up a massive road block to prevent us from moving forward!

We are glad we have gone through this.