Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

Once we have started the process towards wholeness, there comes a time in our lives when the penny drops. This is the time when I realise that life does not revolve around me, my destiny is indelibly linked to that of others and the decisions I make impacts those in my immediate circle and those of my future. This is the time when we actually realise that we are a part of a bigger movement, and it really does matter what we do. How we operate matters and what we do really does change the perception of others.  This is also the time when we realise that doing nothing is not an option. Our rhetoric must have a meaningful outcome rather than being just words. As Paulo Freire says, ‘words without action is mere verbalism’ and ‘action without reflection is mere activism’.

It is at this time when our attitude changes and we believe that we must do something for others rather than just living for ourselves as we once did.  Our spiritual, emotional and physical eyes are open and we can see the bigger picture. With the removal of the scales, our words are ‘backed up’ by our actions, and we are able to reflect on those actions critically. We are being conscientised. The journey continues and each individual now realises that as part of the kingdom of God we are responsible for its expansion and looking after our fellow members. Conscientisation is defined as:

“the process of developing a critical awareness of one’s social reality through reflection and action. Action is fundamental because it is the process of changing the reality. Paulo Freire says that we all acquire social myths which have a dominant tendency, and so learning is a critical process which depends upon uncovering real problems and actual needs.” Learning about God is a vital part of our development for impacting the world we live in. Are you making an impact where you live?