Terry Paul Choyce
January 1st, 2006, Brunswick Street United Church
Today is the first day of a new year. In our culture, it is a day when we try harder than usual to live the way we really want to be. It is a day when we try to manifest, through the power of God, and our own willpower, changes in how we are. For some of us, these may be attitudinal changes, like focussing on the positive instead of what is wrong, or to stop feeling guilty about what we did in the past and to start appreciating all that we do that is right and good. Some of us make resolutions to lose weight, or to stop smoking, or to watch less tv. Some of us are determined to find a life partner, get a new job, or move to a place where we'd be more comfortable. Last night many of us wished 2000 and 5 a fond, or not so fond farewell, and today we are hopeful for our futures.
We Christians are still in the midst of our Christmas celebrations. The gifts have been given, most of the carols have been sung, but for us, there are 12 days when we glorify the birth of the Christ child. On the twelfth day is when the wise men came to present their gifts to Jesus, and in some cultures, that is when the real gift giving occurs. On January 6, Epiphany starts and Christmas is over.
In 1966 some people in the Afro-American community decided to create a holiday specifically for those of African descent. It stresses history, values, family, community and culture. It is not a religious holiday, but it is a very spiritual one. The spiritual qualities are "respect for the Transcendent, the Sacred, the Good, the Right."(p.33) Africans, of all faiths can celebrate Kwanzaa because it is a common ground of all African cultures. It starts on Dec. 26 and ends today, January 1.
Many Christians celebrate Kwanzaa as well as Christmas. One big difference between the two, is that Kwanzaa puts its emphasis on the community, on the family, and on personal growth. It is not a commercialised holiday like Christmas has become. There are rituals, gatherings, food, colours and music that are a part of Kwanzaa. And there is a wonderful philosophy of life that I'd like to share with you. I have gotten my information from this fantastic book Kwanzaa, A Celebration of Family and Community and Culture by Maulana Karenga, the creator of Kwanzaa.
First of all, "greater value is placed on virtue and character than on material achievement and possession." (P.38) Next is the emphasis on community. If something is not good for your community, then it is not good for you. We are interdependent, and we are responsible for each other. So, when we are living our highest ideals, we take into consideration the needs of those we live in community with before we do something which could harm someone. The good of the whole comes before the good of the one.
There are seven principles of Kwanzaa. The first is Unity, which is based on the belief of the ancient Egyptian religion of Maat, which is about "harmony on the natural, cosmic and social level." (P.45) They believe that one cannot live a moral life without living in harmony with other members of the community. It is "firm, dependable togetherness that is born, based and sustained in action." (P.46) It means avoidance of conflict and a stressing of gentleness, cooperation, and forgiveness. And the focal point of Unity is with the family. Marriage is honoured, children are well cared for, and the elders are respected and valued.
The second principle is Self-determination. They say each person should ask themselves 3 questions "Who am I? Am I really who I am? Am I all I ought to be?" (P.50) I think these are questions all of us should ask ourselves, especially today, with the start of a new, fresh year. Are you all you ought to be? Are you living up to your full potential as a loving child of God? Are you using your talents and skills in productive and contributing ways? Are you taking care of yourself, so that you can better take care of others? Do you have goals to direct you? Do you have friends, and do you have faith?
Next is the principle of collective work and responsibility. It is the commitment to work together for the betterment of the community, now and in the future. This is followed by the principle of cooperative economics, which is essentially a believe in the practice of shared social wealth and the work necessary to achieve it . President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania said this principle is "based on the assumption of human equality, on the belief that it is wrong for one person to dominate or exploit another, and on the knowledge that every individual hopes to live in a society as a free person, able to lead a decent life, in conditions of peace with his or her neighbour." (P.56) He also says that "there are more important things in life than the amassing of riches, and that if the pursuit of wealth clashes with things like human dignity and social equality, then the latter will be given priority." (P.57)
Another important part of this principle is generosity. It emphasises social justice. I'm going to quote again from the Kwanzaa book "This struggle is not simply to be generous to the poor and vulnerable, but ultimately to end their poverty and vulnerability, so that they too can live a decent, undeprived and meaningful life. For only in such a context will they be able to pursue the truly human without the limitation imposed by poverty, deprivation or the debilitating struggle for just life's basic necessities. To share wealth and work, then, is to share concern, care and responsibility for a new, more human and fulfilling future." (P.58)
The fifth principle is Nia, or Purpose. In this is recognition of history, and the legacies that have been passed from generation to generation. The African people are to honour their past, work hard to improve the present, and plan well for the future. This is great advice for all of us.
Kuumba, or creativity, is the next principle. Karenga writes "In ancient Egypt there was a spiritual and ethical commitment and obligation to constantly renew and restore the great works, and the creative energy of the leader and the nation....Each pharaoh saw his or her reign as the ..reaffirmation, reestablishment and renewal of the Good, the Beautiful and the Right."(p.62) So with Kwanzaa comes the commitment to creativity and to leave the community and the world more beautiful than when it was inherited.
The last principle is Faith, "which is essentially a profound and enduring belief in and commitment to all that is of value to us as a family, community, people and culture." (p.65) Karenga writes "in all African spiritual traditions it is taught that we are in the image of the Creator and thus capable of ultimate righteousness and creativity through self-mastery"and development of community. "Therefore, faith in ourselves is key. Faith in our capacity as humans to live righteously, self-correct, support, care for and be responsible for each other and to eventually create the just and good society."(p66)
I am not of African origin, as you can tell. But, in the future, I will be celebrating the principles of Kwanzaa. In fact, I will try to live those principles all year long. They blend beautifully with my Christian beliefs, and with how I want my community to be harmonious and free. This is how I want to express my faith in God, and in the message of Jesus to love one another as we love ourselves.
I want to close with this reading from the Kwanzaa book, which you can borrow from the library. It says "faith in ourselves, in our Creator, in our mothers and fathers, our grandmothers and grandfathers, in our elders, our youth, our future, faith in all that makes us beautiful and strong, faith that through hard work, long struggle, and a whole lot of love and understanding, we can again step back on the stage of human history as a free, proud and productive people." (P.67) Let it be so.
