A Thanksgiving Wish

As we share a Thanksgiving meal with our loved ones today, let us seize those cherished moments to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit. Here is one description of the Holy Spirit from the Holy Bible: "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control." (Galatians 5:22-23) These virtuous qualities could change the world for the better, one person at a time.

On the other hand, the Holy Bible describes "the works of the flesh", the extreme opposite of the Holy Spirit. (See Galatians 5:19-22.) The qualities of the "flesh" amount to sin, and evil. These constitute a path to spiritual destruction. The manifestations of sin and evil can be seen in the many crimes and horrors which occur in the world.

Therefore, we have an opportunity today and everyday of our lives, to incorporate the "Spirit" into our lives. We can do this in our treatment of each other, our spouses, family members, friends, co-workers, and business partners. We must try to remember to treat them with kindness and gentleness, even when they anger us. With our co-workers, who may irritate us at times, we can have self-control and pray for peace. Not easy at all, I know. Yet, we should do it.

Let’s open our hearts so the Holy Spirit can guide us, today and always, as we demonstrate our thankfulness to God.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Howard University Homecoming Brings Back Memories

Howard Homecoming 2011 has concluded, yet my wonderful memories continue. At 18, I came to Howard University and experienced a top quality academic education. Also, Howard University was where I met my husband, Chrys. So, I am very grateful for the Howard experience.

"An Eye Opening Experience in Cameroon" Featured In Apinke

My "An Eye Opening Experience in Cameroon" article is featured in the Summer 2011 issue of Apinke, an elegant, new lifestyle magazine. In this article, I reflect on my experiences during my trip to Africa with my family. If you have not read it, I encourage you to do so and to enjoy the summer issue of Apinke. See http://apinke.com/.

A Summer Wedding, African Style

I attended the wedding of a family friend last weekend. A summer Saturday afternoon is often a good day for a lovely and romantic wedding. I've attended, and have been a part of, numerous African (mostly Cameroonian) weddings in the past 25 years. This includes the ceremony of my own wedding, which took place in Cameroon. (I'll tell you about that in an upcoming article, so stay tuned.) I hope that you have some fun summer activities planned for this weekend.
Best Wishes!

First Lady and Daughters in Africa

As you probably know already, our First Lady, Mrs. Michelle Obama, is visiting Africa with her daughters, Sasha and Malia, as well as with her mother, niece, and nephew. On this "good-will" trip to Africa, they've met reknown African leaders, such as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

Since I've visited Africa on three occasions, I know the excitement and pride that Mrs. Obama and family felt when embarking on this journey. Memories of my last journey to Africa with my family come to mind. When we returned from our three week trip to Africa in January 2008, our children had an experience of a life time.

Click below to see a quick glimpse of our African experience, first hand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhVUmcYIxtA&feature=related

Reflecting on the Cruelest Months

By Angeline Bandon-Bibum

"April is the cruellest month,"[1] wrote T.S. Eliot in his poem, The Waste Land. This line seemed to ring true in April of 1994. On April 6, 1994, a cruel course of events would begin in Rwanda. A planned and organized massacre was executed by people across all classes from the poor subsistence farmer, to the middle class schoolmaster, local administrators, and other government officials. There have been genocides throughout human history, in continents all over the world, including Europe, Asia, and Africa. However, the speed and circumstances of this genocide had a chilling uniqueness it seems. For instance, it is estimated that 800,000 people were killed in 100 days during this massacre. That averages to 8,000 people slaughtered per day. This number constituted one tenth of the population of the country at that time. These people (men, women, and children) were killed by their fellow citizens, many with machetes and other crude weapons. This happened in 1994, in a post modern world of technology.

No society is completely immune from crime or violence. A crime committed by a stranger, or the occasional crime of passion between acquaintances or even family members does occur in human societies. Nevertheless, how can one imagine being killed by a local school teacher, farmer, doctor, coworker, or one's neighbor? This happened in Rwanda in 1994.

So as April approaches, I ponder on that cruel month that turned Rwanda, temporarily, into a waste land. I cannot help but to wonder…what is it in human psychology that allows this type of destructive group behavior, on this magnitude, to go unchecked. I have so many questions: During this massacre, where were the ethical codes and moral standards that had previously existed? What type of “group think” mentality, in addition to coercion, made so many otherwise normal people participate in this violence? Where was the analytical thinking on the part of the perpetrators? That is, why did not more people stop to analyze their actions? What were the roots of this massacre? What were the warning signs before it happened? And how can these types of mass acts be prevented in the future, anywhere?

April approaches. It is traditionally a month of plentiful rain and renewal. It is a month that inspires lots of reflection for me. Easter, a sacred Christian holiday, most often occurs in April. April is the month of my birthday. It’s also the month of my father’s birthday and my grandmother’s birthday, both of whom have passed on. My mother passed away in the month of April. So, April has much significance for me.

To my list of things to reflect on in the month of April, I have added those cruel three months in Rwanda in 1994, that started in April and lasted 100 blood-soaked days.

[1] T.S. Eliot (1888–1965). The Waste Land. 1922.


"Reflecting on the Cruelest Months" © Copyright March 2009

Papal Visit Inspired Reflections

My husband and I attended the Papal Mass at the Nationals Stadium in Washington, D.C., this past Thursday. It was an inspiring experience. It was our first time seeing the Pope in person. Approximately, 46,000 people attended the Papal Mass in D.C.

The Pope's visit last week came at the right time for me. My birthday was last week, and I was feeling a little out of sorts. Then I found out that the Pope's birthday was four days after my own birthday. To add to my delight, I was blessed to receive tickets from my parish to attend the Papal Mass in D.C.

I spent my childhood and teenage years in the Baptist Church, the denomination of my grandparents. I converted to Catholicism after I married my husband, who comes from a Catholic family. For me, converting to Catholicism was not a big deal. The way I saw it, we were all Christians.

Converting to Catholicism took me into a Christian world, much different from the one that I had grown up in, in many ways. Both denominations revere and love God and Jesus. However, the rituals were often different.

In the Roman Catholic Church, I had to get used to kneeling a lot, remembering many liturgical responses, and memorizing the Apostles Creed, among many other things. However, as a Christian, I accepted these spiritual rites.

After two decades of being a Catholic, I have come to find some comfort with many of these rituals. For instance, I appreciate the beauty of the architecture of many of the older Catholic Churches, as well as the pageantry of the rituals. The official commitment of the clergy, in the form of a vow of poverty, is admirable. It is a beautiful ideal, even if some people comment that it is too restrictive.

In the Catholic Church that I attend, I have not experienced an emphasis on fashionable attire and social mingling. A bad hair day, is okay, and does not inspire second glances from curious members of the congregation. Clean, pressed, and plain is fine in, as far as clothing was concerned. Although I do like to put on my Sunday best on Easter, I like the freedom from fashion pressure.

There were times when building warm personal friendships posed a challenge for me and my husband in the Catholic Church. However, after many years, we have made some social connections. In the Baptist Church that I grew up in, many of the people in the congregation knew me and my family going back three generations. It was comforting to hear people say, “You look just like your grandmother.”

Sermons in the Baptist Church were often both entertaining and instructive. Likewise, the music was also often the best part of the church experience, and it was not unusual for the congregation to be moved to stand up and clap their hands to the rhythm of those old time religion hymns. Yet, I have grown accustomed to the often subtle and haunting hymns of the Catholic Church. Likewise, I have heard some pretty moving sermons in the Catholic Church as well. I suppose there are pros and cons to both denominations.

When the Pope entered the Nationals Stadium in via his "Pope mobile," as it is affectionately called, I was in awe of seeing the Pope in person, even though our seats were so high up that I felt anxious when I looked down. I was privileged to be there, especially since there are more than 70 million persons who profess to be Catholics in the U.S.A. (Wikipedia), and I was one who was there.

The Papal Mass was a spiritual event, but it was also a historical event, since Pope Benedict XVI is the 265th Pope (Wikipedia) in a long line of Popes.

As I gazed at the 81 year-old Pope, he waved back enthusiastically at the crowd of 46,000 people in the stadium. From him, I sensed affection and appreciation. It was endearing, like a loving grandfather was visiting his adoring grandchildren.

By Angeline Bandon-Bibum

© Copyright April 2008