Cold shower

And on the seventh day …..... I've been trying to get some perspective on Kenya and our part in it's future today. That probably sounds a bit pompous, (or preposterous depending on your point of view). Such a lot has been happening in Kenya since the beginning of the year that it's important for me to keep a positive take on it. It would be relatively easy to get demoralised by the usual 'African malaise' – corruption, inefficiency, “African time”, poverty, greed, cruelty and broken political systems to name but a few.

At the moment the papers over here are full of stories about the 'Ocampo Four', (four Kenyans, including two potential presidential candidates, who will be tried by the ICC in the Hague for crimes against humanity on the next twelve months), the date of the next election, the downside of the recent discovery of oil in the north of the country and the usual collection of personal tragedies. Not to mention the recent pledge by the Education Minister to stop cheating in the national school exams which are an acknowledged disgrace. It could get you down if you let it. There are some days when the glass seems half full, some when it looks closer to empty. On the whole I'm an optimist and have a faith that tells me there is a good plan. (Jeremiah 29:11 if you want to follow it up).

We've had a lot of rain in the evenings over the last few days. This has meant that it's been too cold, (or wet), to go out and have a shower, which is really the only way to get thoroughly clean. This morning I decided to warm up some water and have a good wash. The warm water was nice but a 'bath in a bowl' doesn't really do the job. I decided the only way to feel fully refreshed and presentable was to bite the bullet and have a shower. The day got off to a chilly start, (by Kosele standards), and the sky was overcast. The showers had been filled up overnight with fresh, cold, rain water. The scene was set for a less than enticing experience. Much to my surprise the shower was one of the most enjoyable I've had all year – it felt so good to be really clean! You may be wondering where this story is meandering off to. The point is that sometimes you have to take the cold shower. Thinking about it is worst than doing it. Once you take the plunge it's so obviously the right thing to do.

My current thinking about the situation here in Kenya is that our community needs to take the cold shower. There's a great verse in the bible that goes

“If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land”. (2nd Chronicles 7:14)

If ever a land and people needed healing I'm living in it at the moment. (The same thing could be said, for slightly different reasons, of the West, but that's another story). The easiest thing to do would be to let the status quo continue, with all it's attendant ills. It would be wrong though. I hope that we will have the courage in the future to be advocates for the cold shower – and show our commitment by being the first to take the plunge.