The random thoughts of a Christian parrot
A terrible new swear word has crept into the English Language. A new “B” word. It must be a swear word because every time I hear it mentioned on the television or radio, humans become very angry and start to argue. And the word, is of course, “Brexit.”
Photography: Rebel Circus
Sidle up to someone, and dare to say the word “Brexit” to their face, and quite often, the ground around them starts to shake. It doesn’t matter if you say “Hard Brexit,” “Soft Brexit” or a “Somewhere in between Brexit,” –the response is always the same. It’s like some strange sorcery is taking over British humanity.
Not surprisingly, it’s all causing a massive headache for the British P.M. (I used to think that “P.M.” stood for Prime Minister, but since Brexit appeared on the scene, I’ve decided that it must stand for “Puppet Master.”) Theresa May has a big problem on her hands. Because all of her Cabinet Ministers have become infected by the “B” word, so that they spend all day arguing instead of getting things done. She pulls the strings of her puppets, but they don’t respond as they should. In fact, some of the puppets have broken free and are now creating havoc. It’s just like a good old traditional “Punch and Judy Show!” Last week, “Blond Bombshell Boris” cut his strings and ran off with Theresa’s sausages! And the audience, which includes many of Europe’s elite politicians, absolutely love the show. They’ve never laughed so much! Angela Merkel’s has been suffering with hiccups ever since, while Claude Juncker’s ended up with another hernia. It’s all a bit sad really. Especially as it doesn’t have to be like this. Because as I sit here on my perch gazing on, I’m seeing a human world caught up in narrowness and self-interest. A world in which Christian beliefs and values are very much of secondary importance. Instead, money, wealth and profit are the real driving forces. A world in which humility is buried by humans who are convinced they’re right about everything, (even though humanity has never “got it right” since the time of Adam and Eve). But you know, a wise old parrot would tell them that everything in life needs compromise……..
You see, the real debate here shouldn’t be about whether Britain is in or out of the European Union. First and foremost, it needs to be about swallowing pride, exercising humility, building bridges, working together and perhaps most importantly of all, putting the interests of others over and above self-interest. For humans to accept that they are not infallible, and that they sometimes get it wrong. And to recognize that unity, peace, love and togetherness ultimately count far more than wealth and materialism.
So many humans make Brexit a “life or death” issue. But these people don’t see the full picture. Because they don’t understand that getting into Heaven is the real “life and death” issue for us all. And when humans become trapped in the ways of the world, then argument, discord, strife, disharmony and disunity all result. A real, live “Punch and Judy Show” which does little to make this world a better place. Time and time again, the Bible tells us to live in harmony with one another. 1Peter 3:8-9 could have been written for the Brexit debate. It reads:
“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessings because this is what you were called to do…..”
James 3:13-18 goes further. It says:
“Who is wise and understanding amongst you? Let him show it by his good life; by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from Heaven, but is earthly and unspiritual…………..For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder……. But the wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”
So let’s turn the meaning of “Brexit” on its head. Let’s make it a positive word. A word which means collaboration, co-operation, compromise and collective ownership. A word of unity, peace and harmony. Because a word is really just a word. It’s the tone in which you say it, and the meaning that you give to it, that count for everything…………..
