A Spiritual Word: Grace

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God” – Ephesians 2:8

Jesus’ words from Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them; for they do now know what they are doing”, kept running through my head as I watched “Black Gold” with thirty, black South Africans while attending Pietermaritzburg Agency for Christian Social Awareness’ Economic Justice retreat. The Westerners seemed to have no clue as to how their extravagance impacted the lives of the people who provided, in the sense that they grew or made, their basic needs of food and clothing. Although, the Westerners’ ignorance did not surprise me, as I often ignore the source of my material goods, the contrast between Westerners and Africans stung as I watched as the lone Westerner among Africans. “Black Gold” is a documentary that uses the material good of coffee, from planter to consumer, to demonstrate how the unjust international trade system, favoring the West over less developed countries, affects people’s daily lives.
The contrast between the Ethiopian coffee farmers wanting to earn enough money to send their children to school and representatives from the US, Canada, and Western Europe participating in a coffee brewing competition is undeniable. Although sending a child to school in the US is often relatively easy, Ethiopian coffee farmers struggle to build a school, let alone pay for uniforms, transport and/or school fees. Do we understand how our buying habits can mean life or death for the people who plant and tend to the raw product? According to the directors of “Black Gold”, the coffee farmers merely want: “a price that can send children to school, have healthcare and a clean water supply.” For many Americans, including me, understanding the feeling of not being able to provide food and shelter for our loved ones is inconceivable. Yet, this feeling is a daily reality for many of the people who grow coffee for their livelihood.
The story of Africans struggling to survive is not new. Often the solution seems to be to send money. Yet, ask the Malawi Minister for Trade if he wants aid. In “Black Gold” he states: "We don't want aid, we want trade". The directors of Black Gold elaborate: “African nations want to trade their way out of the situation, but there are corporations and international institutions that are preventing it.” How could Africans not want aid? Well, would you rather receive fair pay for your labor or free handouts? Africa’s share of world trade accounts for only one percent of the total. Yet, the “Black Gold” directors share: “If Africa's share of world trade increased by one percentage point, it would generate roughly five times the amount of money that they're receiving in aid.” Ibo! (See “A Word in isiZulu: Ibo!” on page 4).
I share these facts with you, not to make you feel guilty, but rather so that we may encourage one another to intentionally seek knowledge of the implications of our actions, and then, with our eyes open, change our actions to best love and empower our neighbors. Although the Westerners depicted in the documentary were in need of nothing, they seemed disconnected and empty. In the Africans, struggling to survive, I sensed true life.
We will sin again, sins of commission and sins of omission. By grace, God will forgive us endlessly, Martin Luther tells us that we are not saved by anything we do or do not do. According to Romans, we are saved by grace. God’s gift of grace deserves life-long celebration to give God glory. However, we must also daily recognize God’s sacrifice: Jesus’ crucifixion. Christian life is not only about joy; because of God’s grace through sacrifice, we too should pick up our crosses and follow Jesus. When we function within systems that unfairly ill-treat our neighbors, known and unknown, we do not love our
neighbors. In the case of the coffee farmers, Nick and Marc Francis, the directors of “Black Gold”, state: “The solution is for coffee farmers to receive a greater share of the billions of dollars generated from coffee. This will only happen when they can capture a greater share of the ‘value-chain’ - by earning more than 3 cents for a $3 latte.” Buying fair trade products would be a good, first step towards loving our neighbors. I ask each of you to watch the life-giving movie “Black Gold,” which, along with other information, may be found on their website: http://blackgoldmovie.com/. As Tadesse, the manager of the coffee farmers’ union featured in the documentary, states: "Awareness is the first step to change". The faith-based sacrifices we make glorify God and give life.
My experiences in Cape Town connect me with a few makers of material goods. After spending most of my money I have on me, I stroll casually into colorful Greenmarket Square, enjoying the careful craftwork and intricate or funky art. Yet, what jumps out to me is an open book with the text in two columns on each page. I look up to the face of the woman who holds the book. She meets my eyes. “What are you reading?” I enquire. She is reading the book of Proverbs from the Bible because, she explains, it gives her the wisdom and strength to stay focused on God. Her name is Grace, and she quietly responds that she is from Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans are often persecuted in South Africa, similar to how some Americans treat Mexican immigrants. Grace points out to her little son playing nearby. I ask her about her wire animals on display. Her husband makes the iron frames of the animals and she beads them. Besides sharing her work, Grace shares her kindness and warmth. I thank Grace and walk away with gifts from Grace: two wire animals and inspiration.
After an energizing interaction with Grace, I leave my things with my two YAGM friends, Kristen and Elliott, as they eat lunch and dive into the market for another adventure. This time, beautiful stone carvings catch my eye and I fall into conversation with Austen, who shares the stall with his uncle and cousin. Austen and his family are also from Zimbabwe; they carve their sculptures in Zimbabwe and bring them to Cape Town. Two different elephants, one made by Austen and the other by his uncle, each remind me of people to whom I should give them. Yet, I explain to Austen that I cannot give him what he deserves- I have 70 Rand in my pocket, less than US$10. I promise to return. I ask one of my friends to lend me money for art, and he gives it to me, a pure luxury. I return to Austen with the money and Austen’s uncle picks out two tusks for one of my elephants, made from cow bone. I place them in the tusk holes but think that they are too big. Austen asks his uncle to make them smaller. Three minutes later, the uncle proudly gives me back the tusks and tells me to put them someplace where I won’t loose them. I smile and say I’ll put them in my cargo pocket. After shaking Austen’s uncle and cousin’s hands, Austen walks me to where he works full time on top of helping to run the market stall, a restaurant facing the market. Then, I introduce him to my friends. Before saying goodbye, Austen reminds me to call him via a friend’s number in a neighboring stall. I have not called Austen. I lost one of the tusks. Once again, based on my privilege, I receive in abundance. And, once again, I value what I have received less than the once who gave. By God’s grace, may I learn to appreciate all the gifts I receive.

God, please forgive us our sins, known and unknown. Open our eyes to the injustices in the world. Help us to love our neighbors, seen and unseen, in our daily actions. May we endlessly glorify you for your life providing gift of grace. Amen.