I was chatting with a long-lost online friend this last Saturday.
I was in Accra, the capital city of Ghana in West Africa and my friend was chatting across the Atlantic from America. The benevolence of the inter-connectivity of the global village.
He actually called me up. We had lost contact with each other. We first met online early 2004 but the demands of business on my part and academic pursuit on his part kept us away from each other until this Saturday.
After the initial banters, I quickly asked him to share with me the things we have in common. It was important to ask him because these days unnecessary interactions online distract serious minded people from sound and effective relationships.
My friend said that the things we share in common are God, Family, Children, Business, Love, Humanity, Sports. I was elated when he rolled out these things. In spite of our distance and clime, it is heart warming to note that all of humanity really share certain things in common.
Yes, we have our problems as humans. Some things really seem to separate us, make us feel we are different. We also create some artificial barriers to separate ourselves from one another. Intelligent Quotient, Race, Gender, Commerce, Ideology, Religion, Government and a host of institutions designed by humans tend to make us feel differently apart. Deep down our hearts though, are we really different from one another the world over?
All of humanity is one. We laugh, we cry. We love, we feel pains, hurt and disappointments. We shout for joy. And, more. Just the same way. Does an African laugh different from an American? Does a Japanese cry differently from an American Indian?
I remember two songs that underscore the reality that we are essentially the same, from the same source as human and share all things, all of life in common.
The first song is titled
We Are The WorldThere comes a time when we need a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone, somehow will soon make a change
We're all a part of God's great big family
And the truth - you know love is all we need
( CHORUS )
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
Well, send'em you your heart
So they know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us
By turning stone to bread
And so we all must lend a helping hand
( REPEAT CHORUS )
When you're down and out
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Well, well, well, let's realize
That one change can only comeW
hen we stand together as one
The second song is
Jesus Loves the Little Children.Jesus calls the children dear,
"Come to me and never fear,
For I love the little children of the world;
I will take you by the hand,
Lead you to the better land,
For I love the little children of the world."
Refrain
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
[Alternate refrain:
Jesus died for all the children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus died for all the children of the world.]
Jesus is the Shepherd true,
And He'll always stand by you,
For He loves the little children of the world;
He's a Savior great and strong,
And He'll shield you from the wrong,
For He loves the little children of the world.
Refrain
I am coming, Lord, to Thee,
And Your soldier I will be,
For You love the little children of the world;
And Your cross I'll always bear,
And for You I'll do and dare,
For You love the little children of the world.
Well, well, well. We should halt the things that tend to make us different.
We should stop hatred, prejudice, stereotype, war, et al.
Let us begin to think about the things we share in common.
Then we can live in love, harmony and tolerance. War may not be 100% eliminated over night, but understandings will fill the hearts of men, and the leaders. Cooperation will help us accommodate one another and compete fairly with one another, as well.
So much for the things we share in common.
Acknowledgement: Picture source is susie1114.com/LittleChildren.html