Tangaza Vision(Receive Without Charge Give Without Charge)
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Date
1998-01
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
One day a poor young man serving in a big hotel near the town was on the roadside looking for a taxi to go and visit his sick relative in the hospital. As he looked up, he saw a
politician approaching in a Volvo car and he waved him down. When he drew near the car
he asked," Please sir, could you give me a lift to the hospital?" The politician answered, "Yes, of course." Upon reaching his destination, he asked, ''How much do I have to pay?" "No charge," the politician answered. I considered it a service to my community." A few days later, a young missionary priest was on his way to a remote village outside the town. On reaching a point where there was a cafeteria, he felt like eating something. He entered and had a meal. When he had finished
he got up and went over to the counter and asked the waiter how much he owed. ''No
charge father," he said. "I consider it a service to the Lord."
Now, there comes a day when a poor man who was displaced and beaten up by a band of
hooligans was searching for a place to take refuge. For safety he ran into the priest's house.
The priest in charge came and asked the man, ''What is it? How much are you going to pay for
staying here?" And the poor man responded gently, "Receive without charge and give with- out charge."
Dear readers, the relationships that link us together in human society are based on con- tracts: I give you this and you give me that or you do this for me and I will do that for you. So,
inevitably life is about duties, pay-offs, and getting the quid pro quo. The life of human society with God is radically different. God
deals with us in gifts without strings. Our response then is not one of "paying back" but one
of spontaneous praises and thanks for His goodness. God has given us many gifts in life; wealth, intellect, wisdom, creativity and so on. God did not
ask us for anything in return. The only way we can
show our joy and gratitude is by giving Him thanks
and praise. Yet, we have never seen God to express
our feelings. Hence, the only possible and efficient
way of achieving this purpose is in our neighbour
whom we meet on our journey through life. There are many people around us who might There are many people around us who might
need our help and support because nothing today is
given or done freely. Everyone wants to compensated
in one way or another. No one cares.
God has shown us what an authentic life means.
It means sacrifice imbued in love. That is, love of
neighbour, friends, as well as God's creation. And
how do we get to express this love for others? It is
only through the little ways of sharing what God has
given us with our brothers and sisters who might be in
need of our sensitivity.
In view of this, and the present socio-economic
and religious situation of life that effects our African
countries, Tangaza Vision has as a response and a
reaction focused this present edition on spiritual and
socio-religious matters. Our challenge is to give from
what we have received without regard for payment or
with any kind of reservations.
How many times in our lives have we received a gift or help without charge? How many times have we
given and requested payment? As we have just celebrated the feast of Christmas, the Tangaza Vision
encourages us to remember the Lord's forgotten peo
pie. We are called to bring them happiness, joy, peace
of mind and hope. Our proclamation of the feast we
have just celebrated should be holistic in nature.
Moreover we should always be faced with the challenge "To receive without charge and to give without
charge."
We hope that your celebration of Christmas was
a joyful one and that 1998 may be a happy a blessed
year for you. •
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Keywords
Receive, Distorted, Image of God, Youth Challege, Social Injustices, Religion